How to Stop Worrying About Everything: 10 Tips to Keep You Grounded

Author

Talkspace

For more information about the author, click to view their website: Talkspace

Posted on

Jan 06, 2025

Book/Edition

Florida - Southwest

share-this
Share This

While everyone feels worried at times, too many worrisome thoughts can easily take hold of your overall well-being. Once you start worrying, it can be tough to stop. When it becomes a pattern, worrying too much can create a cycle and pattern of negative, anxious thoughts and behaviors that can be difficult to break. 

There are blurred lines with worry vs anxiety. If you constantly feel worried, it’s likely that your feelings of anxiety are negatively impacting many aspects of your everyday life. Thankfully, you don’t have to live like this forever. Online therapists, like those we have here at Talkspace, can help you work through and prevent a worry cycle. Keep reading as we discuss some key tips you can practice on your own to learn how to stop worrying about everything so that you can take back your life.

The Physical and Mental Effects of Worrying

Excessive worrying or the feeling of uncertainty can be all-consuming and tough to control, slowly but surely taking over your ability to live life to its fullest. When you’re nearly worried sick, it can be hard to find relaxation or focus on what’s happening around you. Research shows that chronic worry can also interfere with sleep, which can intensify these adverse effects and, even worse, result in physical health issues.

Worrying can cause anxiety symptoms like nausea or indigestion. Another negative outcome is that it can even weaken the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight off illness. If left untreated, constant worrying can increase your risk for heart disease. For the sake of your health and happiness, it’s important to learn how to stop worrying about everything and to stop yourself from sinking into thought patterns of uncertainty.

“Chronic worrying can have a profound effect on our body. Worrying lets our body know that we’re in constant fear mode. This way of thinking can distract us from living in the present moment and enjoying life.”

Talkspace therapist Dr. Karmen Smith LCSW DD

Common Triggers of Worry

Identifying worry triggers can help you learn to manage your feelings more effectively in your daily life. While triggers can vary from person to person, some types of worries are more common than others.

Financial stress

Debts, bills, and other financial burdens can be a significant source of stress. As if that’s not enough, worrying about finances can make it harder to manage money effectively, which can exacerbate things, ultimately causing a state of chronic worry. If untreated, excessive worrying or anxious thoughts around how to afford daily life necessities could develop into or be a characteristic of a mental health condition like generalized anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Work stress

Whether you’re working long hours, overwhelmed by responsibilities, or dealing with a difficult co-worker or boss, it’s very common to develop anxious thoughts over a job. Keep track of when you feel worried or anxious about work in a worry diary to get a better sense of what’s causing your work anxiety. Doing so can help relieve negative thinking and prevent a work-related panic attack, especially when utilized with the relaxation techniques discussed later in this article.

Health concerns

Concerning health symptoms, or a difficult health diagnosis, can understandably cause intense worries. In addition, many people worry that they’re sick and develop health anxiety even if they don’t have symptoms, resulting in a seemingly perpetual worry cycle that is difficult to break out of. Whether you’re worried about your health, or the health of a loved one, talking about your concerns with your doctor or mental health professional can help you keep excessive worry in check.

Social anxiety

While many people look forward to social events, others find them stressful. Social anxiety can make it difficult to enjoy being in large groups or around people you don’t know. It can even make it difficult for some to be around people they do know. It’s important to find coping mechanisms that make socializing easier to manage. If you experience debilitating social anxiety symptoms in public settings, consider treatment options with a mental health professional, including cognitive behavioral therapy, online psychiatry, or a combination of both.

Public speaking

Public speaking is an extremely common fear that most people experience in some form. It’s normal to be somewhat afraid or nervous before speaking in front of large groups. Still, other situations, like job interviews, can also become a significant source of stress. Practicing in front of friends and family can help you to ease your worries and build confidence.

Relationships

Friendships, romances, and even parent and teacher-student relationships can all be sources of excessive worry, especially when there’s conflict. Conflict resolution skills can help you work through these feelings and build stronger relationships.

Tips to Keep You Grounded and Help You Stop Worrying

There are several effective, easy-to-implement actions you can take when that feeling of dread begins seeping into your day. Try some or all of the following the next time your worry-thoughts interfere with your ability to function productively in your daily life.

1. Take a break

If you’re in an overwhelming situation, the best thing you can do is step away and give yourself a chance to calm down. Step away from the worrying thought and try to calm your mind down. You might want to try closing your eyes and counting to 10. When you return to the situation, you’ll have a clearer head.

2. Focus on your breathing

Slow, deep breaths can slow your heart rate and allow more oxygen into the bloodstream, helping you calm down when your anxiety is high or if you’re experiencing a panic attack.. Deep breathing can help distract you from your worries. You can take deep breaths or try breathing exercises, like the well-known 4-7-8 technique. Breathe in slowly for a count to 4, hold it for a count to 7, then exhale for a count to 8. Repeat 10 times. 

3. Try mindfulness meditation

Mindfulness meditation combines meditation with mindfulness. It’s designed to teach you how to be present in the moment instead of spending useless time worrying about the past, present, or future. If you’re new to mindfulness, a guided meditation app is a great place to start.

4. Think positively

When negative thoughts pop into your head, try to immediately counter them with something positive. The power of positivity works — research shows that positive thinking can significantly reduce anxiety and worry. For example, if you’re worried that an upcoming presentation will go poorly, think about how much you’ve done to prepare. Positive thinking is proven to have the ability to improve your state of mind and help you let go of worrisome thought patterns.

5. Keep a journal

Journaling can help you to track worry triggers and work through your emotions. You may want to jot down your thoughts when you wake up in the morning, or you can carry your worry diary with you throughout the day. This can help you to work with the negative emotion by taking each worrisome thought you have and leaving it on the page. After journaling, reflect on “solvable worries” and relieve your negative thinking. Even journaling at night can be an effective way to release anxiety and help you sleep better. When you learn more about your own feelings, you can learn how to not worry so much.

6. Spend time with your pets

Pets have the power to elevate your mood and increase your feelings of emotional support. In fact, spending time with your pet can immediately reduce your anxiety. Caring for a pet can give you a sense of purpose, helping to distract you from a worry period.

7. Recite daily affirmations

Positive affirmations are an easy and effective way to reduce negative thoughts. Every morning, you should look into the mirror and recite a positive statement. Affirmations can help boost awareness of your thoughts so you can change negative thinking patterns over time.

“In many of the support groups, there’s a prayer that is used in recovery, ‘God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.’ This can help categorize our thoughts, so they don’t turn into worry.”

Talkspace therapist Dr. Karmen Smith LCSW DD

8. Exercise

Exercise causes the body to produce endorphins, a chemical that triggers positive feelings. Physical activity can be an excellent way to unwind or work through negative feelings. Whether you hit the gym, go for a run, or walk around the block, exercise can improve your physical and mental health.

9. Volunteer

Volunteering can help you build a stronger support network and give you a sense of meaning. Studies show that engaging in volunteer work can also increase your sense of self-worth, helping you to avoid negative thought patterns. There are many ways to volunteer, which means you can seek out opportunities that you enjoy and are meaningful to you.

10. Seek professional help

If you feel like your worries are taking over your life, the best thing you can do is talk to someone. Worrying all the time can be taxing and overwhelming, but you don’t have to deal with it on your own. A therapist can help you figure out how to stop worrying and find effective coping strategies through an in-person or online anxiety treatment plan. Explore mental health treatment options, including online therapy and psychiatry covered by insurance, for effective and affordable care.

It’s normal to worry from time to time, but if your worries are all-consuming, learning how to not worry so much with coping mechanisms and treatment. Don’t let the fact that you tend to worry get in the way of your emotional and physical well-being. Work to break negative thought patterns so that you can lead a healthier, happier, more peaceful life. Seek online therapy with Talkspace to learn how to control your worried thoughts.

Sources: 

1. Norell-Clarke A, Hagström M, Jansson-Fröjmark M. Sleep-Related Cognitive Processes and the Incidence of Insomnia Over Time: Does Anxiety and Depression Impact the Relationship?. Front Psychol. 2021;12. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.677538. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.677538/full. Accessed June 7, 2022.

2. Segerstrom S, Glover D, Craske M, Fahey J. Worry Affects the Immune Response to Phobic Fear. Brain Behav Immun. 1999;13(2):80-92. doi:10.1006/brbi.1998.0544. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10373274/.  Accessed June 7, 2022.

3. Eagleson C, Hayes S, Mathews A, Perman G, Hirsch C. The power of positive thinking: Pathological worry is reduced by thought replacement in Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Behav Res Ther. 2016;78:13-18. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2015.12.017. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796715300814. Accessed June 7, 2022.

4. Thelwell. Paws for Thought: A Controlled Study Investigating the Benefits of Interacting with a House-Trained Dog on University Students Mood and Anxiety. Animals. 2019;9(10):846. doi:10.3390/ani9100846. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6826684/. Accessed June 7, 2022.

Talkspace articles are written by experienced mental health-wellness contributors; they are grounded in scientific research and evidence-based practices. Articles are extensively reviewed by our team of clinical experts (therapists and psychiatrists of various specialties) to ensure content is accurate and on par with current industry standards.

Our goal at Talkspace is to provide the most up-to-date, valuable, and objective information on mental health-related topics in order to help readers make informed decisions.

Articles contain trusted third-party sources that are either directly linked to in the text or listed at the bottom to take readers directly to the source.

Other Articles You May Like

Who We Serve

We provide housing for a wide range of individuals, ensuring secure and supportive living environments for those in need. Our goal is to offer comprehensive support, promoting stability, dignity, and community involvement for every person we serve.Displaced Adults We assist people who are experiencing displacement due to life transitions, natural disasters, or economic challenges. By offering secure housing options, we aim to provide stability and emotional support as they adjust to new circumstances in their lives. Our programs include personalized case management to help individuals regain self-sufficiency.Veterans We honor those who have served our country by offering targeted housing assistance for veterans. Our services support their honorable and respectful transition back to civilian life, ensuring they have the resources needed for long-term stability. We collaborate with veteran organizations to provide additional services such as counseling, job training, and access to healthcare.Senior Citizens Our housing options for seniors are designed to support their independence and well-being. We create environments that prioritize safety, comfort, and accessibility tailored to their unique needs. Our communities encourage social interaction, wellness programs, and access to medical services to ensure a high quality of life.(SSI/SSDI) Income Recipients We provide secure housing solutions for individuals receiving SSI/SSDI income. Our goal is to guarantee them stability and a secure living arrangement based on their guaranteed income. We offer budget counseling and community support programs to ensure financial wellness and social inclusion.Families in Need We extend our services to families facing housing challenges. Our family housing programs provide safe and nurturing environments for parents and children. We focus on holistic support, including access to educational resources, childcare services, and community-building activities to empower families towards self-sufficiency.Persons with Disabilities We offer specialized housing options for individuals with disabilities, ensuring accessibility and necessary support services. Our goal is to create inclusive environments that promote independence while ensuring necessary care and accommodations are readily available.Make an Inquiry! If you or someone you know needs housing assistance, contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help. Our team is ready to assist with compassionate and personalized support, ensuring every individual has the opportunity for a stable and dignified living environment.

Ona Solutions: Transforming Lives Through Affordable Housing

About Us Welcome to Ona Solutions, where we specialize in providing housing for independent adults and assisting individuals in finding affordable housing options. Our dedicated team is committed to creating safe, supportive, and sustainable living environments that empower individuals to thrive. We operate with a foundation of compassion and a strong sense of community, working tirelessly to ensure everyone has access to a place they can call home. At Ona Solutions, we firmly believe that housing is a fundamental human right and strive to make this belief a reality for all.Mission At Ona Solutions, our mission is to transform lives by offering secure, affordable, and dignified housing solutions for independent adults and those seeking affordable living options. Our goal is to foster a supportive community where individuals can regain stability, independence, and hope. Through our dedicated efforts, we aim to address the housing deficit and ensure that every person we serve has the opportunity to lead a better, more fulfilling life.Vision Our vision at Ona Solutions is a world where affordable housing is accessible to all. We envision a society where everyone has a place to call home, enabling them to lead fulfilling and independent lives. By continuously innovating and advocating for sustainable housing solutions, we aspire to be a leader in creating lasting change and brighter futures for individuals and communities alike.Why Choose Ona Solutions?Commitment to Community: We prioritize creating a sense of belonging by fostering supportive and inclusive housing environments.Affordability: We are dedicated to providing cost-effective housing solutions to help individuals maintain financial stability.Sustainability: Our focus on sustainable practices ensures long-term housing security and positive environmental impact.Empowerment: We empower residents by offering resources and support systems that encourage personal growth and independence.Get Involved At Ona Solutions, we believe positive change happens when communities come together. Whether you are seeking affordable housing or want to support our mission, we welcome you to join our efforts in making housing accessible for all. Together, we can create a brighter future where everyone has a place to call home.

When Grief Doesn't Ease

Sometimes it feels as if your bereavement will never end. You feel as if youd give anything to have the pain go away; to have the long lonely hours between nightfall and dawn pass without heartache. You are not the only grieving person who has longed for some measure of relief.In the novel, My Sisters Keeper, author Jodi Picoult wrote, There should be a statute of limitations on grief. A rule book that says it is all right to wake up crying, but only for a month. That after 42 days you will no longer turn with your heart racing, certain you have heard her call out your name.No such rule book exists. Grief counselors and therapists tell us that the length of time it takes anyone to grieve the loss of someone they held dear to them is dependent on the situation, how attached you were to the deceased, how they died, your age and gender. So many variables exist and theres absolutely no way to predict how long it will take for you to adapt to your loss.The Difference Between Normal and Complicated GriefResearch findings have led experts to come up with many differing categories of grief experience ranging from normal to complicated. Normal (or uncomplicated) grief has no timeline and encompasses a range of feelings and behaviors common after loss such as bodily distress, guilt, hostility, preoccupation with the image of the deceased, and the inability to function as one had before the loss. All are normal and present us with profound, and seemingly endless, challenges. Yet, Katherine Walsh says, Over the course of time, with average social supportmost individuals will gradually experience a diminishment of these feelings, behaviors, and sensations. So, how can you know if your bereavement is no longer within the range of normal? Ms. Walsh goes on to say, While there is no definitive time period by which this happens, if an individual or members of a family continue to experience distress intensely or for a prolonged periodor even unexpectedly years after a lossthey may benefit from treatment for complicated grief.A Useful Model for Assessment: Wordens Four Tasks of MourningThere are certain tasks that, when achieved during your bereavement, can successfully allow you to emerge on the other side of loss as a better, stronger, and more resilient individual. James Worden proposed these four tasks: To accept the reality of the loss To process the pain of grief To adjust to a world without the deceased To find an enduring connection with the deceased in the midst of embarking on a new life Instead of focusing on your bodily discomforts, feelings, and common behaviors, this model allows you to better see where you may be stuck or stalled in the adaptive process. Fortunately, Worden also gives us a list of indicators advising that "any one of these clues in and of itself may not be sufficient" for a diagnosis of complicated grief. "However," he continues, "any of theseshould be taken seriously, and the diagnosis of complicated grief should be considered when they appear."12 Clues... 12 InsightsWhile grief educators and theorists tell us that a diagnosis of complicated grief should not even be attempted until after the first anniversary of the death, if any one of the following symptomatic clues exists for longer than six months, you may want to consider grief counseling or grief therapy: You cannot speak of the deceased without experiencing intense and fresh grief long after the loss. A relatively minor event triggers an intense grief reaction. Your conversations with others are littered with references to loss. In other words, loss is an ever-present motif in your world view. You have issues related to your loved one's possessions. Keeping everything the same as before their death could indicate trouble just as tossing out everything right away can also be a clue to disordered mourning. (You also need to factor in your cultural and religious background) You have developed physical symptoms similar to those of the deceased before their death. Sometimes these symptoms recur annually, on the anniversary of the death, or on holidays. An increased susceptibility to illness or the development of a chronic physical complaint can also be an indicator. If you have made radical changes to your lifestyle, or excluded friends, family members, or even activities associated with the deceased, it may indicate unresolved grief. A long history of depression, often marked by guilt or low self-esteem, can reveal disordered mourning. The opposite is also true: a person experiencing a false sense of happiness or elation could be experiencing unresolved grief. A compulsion to imitate the deceased, in personality or behavior, can be a sign of complicated mourning. Having self-destructive impulses or exhibiting self-destructive behaviors can be significant. These can range from substance abuse, engaging in self-harm, developing eating disorders and suicidal tendencies. A sense of unexplained sadness occurring at a certain time each year (holidays, anniversaries, or birthdays) can also be a clue to unresolved grief. Developing a strong fear about dying, especially when it relates to the illness that took the life of your loved one, is an important clue. If you have avoided visiting your loved one's grave or if you are still unwilling to discuss the circumstances of their death, this could indicate complications in your bereavement. There are many types of complicated grief; it can be delayed, masked, exaggerated, or chronic. Self-diagnosis is without purpose. A year after the death, if you feel your grief symptoms worsening, we advise that you seek a referral from your family physician for professional grief counseling or therapy.Sources: Walsh, Katherine, Grief and Loss: Theories and Skills for the Helping Professions, 2nd Edition, 2012 Worden, James, Grief Counseling & Grief Therapy: A Handbook for the Mental Health Practitioner, 4th Edition, 2009

Local Services By This Author

Talkspace

Mental Health & Counseling 622 3rd Avenue, New York, New York, 10017

Online Mental Health TherapyMental health support from anywhere, available fast Talkspace provides mental health support privately and conveniently online. Receive live video therapy appointments from a highly qualified licensed therapist covered by your Medicare or Medicare Advantage plan with little wait.  Individual therapy, psychiatry, or couples counseling covered by your private insurance plan is also readily available.Talkspace provides:A private space to discuss relationships, retirement, grief, health conditions, financial concerns, life changes, and anything thats on your mindLive one-on-one therapy sessions from your computer or phoneTreatment for over 150 mental health conditions including anxiety, stress, grief, depression, OCD, BPD, and moreMessaging therapy allows you to share with your therapist 24/7 and receive feedback and advice, and is proven to be as effective as traditional therapy..Connect with a therapist within daysTalkspace will match you with a therapist who is licensed in your state and should be a good fit for your needs. Start communicating with your therapist in 1-2 days.Receive care on your scheduleTalkspace removes all the scheduling hassles so you can get mental health support anytime, anywhere. Send your therapist text, voice, or video messages through the secure Talkspace platform and hear back daily, 5 days / weekStart your care journey with Talkspace today, visit www.talkspace.com

Talkspace

Psychologist 622 3rd Avenue, New York, New York, 10017

Online Mental Health TherapyMental health support from anywhere, available fast Talkspace provides mental health support privately and conveniently online. Receive live video therapy appointments from a highly qualified licensed therapist covered by your Medicare or Medicare Advantage plan with little wait.  Individual therapy, psychiatry, or couples counseling covered by your private insurance plan is also readily available.Talkspace provides:A private space to discuss relationships, retirement, grief, health conditions, financial concerns, life changes, and anything thats on your mindLive one-on-one therapy sessions from your computer or phoneTreatment for over 150 mental health conditions including anxiety, stress, grief, depression, OCD, BPD, and moreMessaging therapy allows you to share with your therapist 24/7 and receive feedback and advice, and is proven to be as effective as traditional therapy..Connect with a therapist within daysTalkspace will match you with a therapist who is licensed in your state and should be a good fit for your needs. Start communicating with your therapist in 1-2 days.Receive care on your scheduleTalkspace removes all the scheduling hassles so you can get mental health support anytime, anywhere. Send your therapist text, voice, or video messages through the secure Talkspace platform and hear back daily, 5 days / weekStart your care journey with Talkspace today, visit www.talkspace.com

Talkspace

Health & Wellness 622 3rd Avenue, New York, New York, 10017

Online Mental Health TherapyMental health support from anywhere, available fast Talkspace provides mental health support privately and conveniently online. Receive live video therapy appointments from a highly qualified licensed therapist covered by your Medicare or Medicare Advantage plan with little wait.  Individual therapy, psychiatry, or couples counseling covered by your private insurance plan is also readily available.Talkspace provides:A private space to discuss relationships, retirement, grief, health conditions, financial concerns, life changes, and anything thats on your mindLive one-on-one therapy sessions from your computer or phoneTreatment for over 150 mental health conditions including anxiety, stress, grief, depression, OCD, BPD, and moreMessaging therapy allows you to share with your therapist 24/7 and receive feedback and advice, and is proven to be as effective as traditional therapy..Connect with a therapist within daysTalkspace will match you with a therapist who is licensed in your state and should be a good fit for your needs. Start communicating with your therapist in 1-2 days.Receive care on your scheduleTalkspace removes all the scheduling hassles so you can get mental health support anytime, anywhere. Send your therapist text, voice, or video messages through the secure Talkspace platform and hear back daily, 5 days / weekStart your care journey with Talkspace today, visit www.talkspace.com