Worry is something that plagues all of us, especially during this time of year. Are we going to have enough food for everyone at our family dinner? Will everyone get the presents that they want? Will we be able to get through this holiday without the family member(s) that we have lost? What will we do in order to be able to get through this season? There are so many thoughts that plague us, and it can be really hard to figure out whether or not we can come with some of the more difficult feelings that we are dealing with on a regular basis. But why does worry overwhelm us? What can we do to make worry less prominent during this time of year? That's what we're going to explore here today so that we can better understand the whole topic without it taking over our entire lives. 

Why Does Worry Overwhelm Us?

Worry is a feeling that a lot of us don't like to deal with because it hurts and it makes us struggle with what we're trying to do with our lives. That being said, it's important for us to approach worry with a clear mind and the ability to fight off some of the thoughts that can come forward. If we approach it timidly, sometimes that can end up making it worse because we just don't know what to do in order to be able to function normally again. We need to fight off our worry in a healthy way to get through it.

But why does worry get overwhelming so fast? One of the main reasons is because it has the tendency to "snowball." By worrying about one thing, it gives your mind the "permission" to start wandering, and then the worry starts to get worse and worse as you add more things to the pile. By the end, there are a lot of things on the pile and it may be difficult for you to try and work through them because it's mucking up your mind in an unhealthy, almost obsessive way that makes it hard for you to work through all of it.

Worry can overwhelm us as well because there's just a lot that weighs down on us. Sometimes, worry makes us feel like we can't even control anything that is going on in life. Many of us feel uncomfortable when we don't feel like we have control over a situation, and that makes the worry that much worse for us to deal with, once again causing the "snowball" effect and making it more difficult to cope. Either way, worry and anxiety have a way of overwhelming us and making us feel defeated - which is why we need to learn how to deal with it. 

Tips For Dealing with Worry

The great news is, you don't have to feel helpless in the face of worry. There are a lot of things that you can do in order to make sure that your worry is lessened and so that you can enjoy your life in a healthy way once again. Some of these tips will work for you, others won't, you just have to try them out and see what ones are best for you, your temperament, and the situation that you are currently in. Try these tips for yourself to see what works.

If a problem comes up, take care of it instead of fretting about it more. One issue that a lot of people have is that they start to worry about everything more than they need to. It's really hard to stop focusing on an issue that is going on, and worry can creep in and make it even harder for you to work through the problem. So try your hardest to push worry out of your mind so that you can work through the problem and start to move forward with your life again. 

Remember that worrying is not helpful in most situations, and you're lying to yourself if you say that it does. Some people believe that worrying is good for you, but the honest truth is, it isn't.  Yes, sometimes our worry reflex can make it so that we get out of a bad situation or move forward in our lives, but most times it just makes it harder to do so. And if you worry too much, it can give you a lot of health issues, especially with your mental wellbeing. So don't kid yourself - worry isn't healthy for you! 

Do something that you enjoy to try and shift your focus and help yourself to get in a better mood. I know it's hard, especially if you're really busy, but take some time, take time out and enjoy life for what it is worth. Go and watch some funny videos on YouTube, watch your favorite show, go and take a walk, do something that you can focus on and enjoy so that you can alleviate some of the stress and pain that comes from worrying way too often and too much. 

Do everything that you can to make sure that you get the proper amount of sleep, or everything will just get worse. Sleep is absolutely vital, and many people who worry on a regular basis will not get the right amount of sleep because their worries keep them up at night. Don't let this happen, because it will start a cycle that you may have a hard time getting out of. The more you worry, the less you sleep, the less you sleep, the more emotional you are and, likely, the more you will worry. It will keep going around and around until you feel like everything is out of control. That's unhealthy, and you have to make sure you get the right amount of sleep. Journal before bed, talk out your feelings, drink a warm drink or take a bath before you sleep so that you can relax and get your mind off the worry. 

Look at the future, but make sure that you are living in the moment as well to help alleviate some of the fear and anxiety. We have to look ahead, because if we don't, we won't be able to plan for the life that we want to live. But sometimes, we get so focused on the future that we forget to actually look at what we're doing in our present. Enjoy the moment that you are living in - looking to the future is healthy, freaking out and worrying about what is in the future is not. 

As you can see, there are a lot of things that you can do in order to take care of worry in your own life. Sometimes, the worry can become really overwhelming though, and in those cases, you may need to seek out the help of someone professional, a therapist that can help you to work through your thoughts and feelings so that you are able to deal with your worry and anxiety in a more healthy manner than you may have been able to otherwise. That being said, there are plenty of resources here on the site that you can use in order to find a therapist that can help you through this sometimes worry-filled season of the year. Contact one in your local area today and get the help that you need to enjoy this season of your life once again. We hope that you find the hope that this time of year brings. 

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Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (2010). Tips to Manage Anxiety and Stress. Retrieved July 21, 2014, from http://www.adaa.org/tips-manage-anxiety-and-stress

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