Originally published March 4 2013
30 biggest worries and top 10 symptoms of chronic worry
by Mike Bundrant
(NaturalNews) Benenden Health in the U.K. has produced a worthwhile study that shows how invested we seem to be in chronic worry. According to the results, people spent an average of 14 hours a week brooding over their weight, poor relationships, the cost of living and other stressors.
Some claimed that the stress from chronic worry made it impossible for them to concentrate during work and other activities, only adding pressure to the situation. Let's look at the top 30 worries, top 10 symptoms of worry and the time people spent worrying, according to the study. Then we will discuss a specific technique you can use to sort out worries.
Here is the list of the top 30 biggest worries
1. Stomach/ being overweight
2. Getting old
3. Lack of savings/ financial future
4. Overall fitness
5. Overdrafts and loans
6. Low energy levels
7. Credit card debt
8. Paying rent/mortgage
9. Job security
10. Diet
11. Keeping the house clean
12. Finding a new job
13. Sex life
14. Generally unhappy
15. Wrinkles or ageing appearance
16. Whether or not I am attractive
17. Physique
18. Meeting work targets or goals
19. Does my partner still loves me
20. Whether I'll find or / are am with the right partner
21. Whether I'm in the right career
22. Friend or family issues
23. Parenting skills
24. Unhealthy reliance or addiction
25. Driving
26. Pet's health
27. Child's health
28. Dress sense
29. Worrying I'm ill but yet to be tested/ seek help
30. Partner is cheating/may cheat
Top ten symptoms of worry
1. Sleepless nights
2. Lost confidence
3. Arguments with partner
4. Reduced appetite
5. Poor performance at work
6. Distance from partner
7. Avoided a social event
8. Increased alcohol consumption
9. Got a bit paranoid
10. Nausea
Time spent worrying
14.31 hours per week worrying
744 hours worrying a year
45, 243 hours of worry in a lifetime
1,885 days of worry in a lifetime
5.2 years of worry
Around 45% of those studied admitted stress and worry had already directly affected their health.
What can you do about chronic worry?
A good first step is to identify what in your life holds real cause for concern vs. what you are worrying about unnecessarily, or out of habit. Take out a sheet of paper, make two columns. Label one column, legitimate worries, and write down things to really be concerned about based on real world evidence. Include the evidence in your list.
For example, are you worried about keeping your job? What is your real world evidence to support the worry? Did your boss put you on probation? Is your performance lacking? Were there cutbacks announced? Or are you just worried in general, with no evidence to support it? Be honest.
Label the second column irrational worries and include those things you tend to worry about but have no real world evidence for. These will probably include a lot of speculation about how things could go wrong in the future, if/then scenarios. For example, if the economy takes a another dive, then I will lose my job.
If you have any doubts about which column a specific worry belongs in, ask a trusted friend or two, or just imagine what a neutral party might say.
This exercise is usually eye opening for chronic worriers because they realize that much of their time is spent worrying about things that aren't real. The problem, then, is one of habit or attachment. If you grew up with a lot of uncertainty or emotional trauma, or under the guidance of a worrier, then you developed a familiarity with or attachment to the feeling of being out of control that goes with chronic worry.
These attachments can sabotage our inner peace because we live as if the state of worry is "home" and can't imagine life outside of it. Raising your consciousness around the issue is critical to overcoming it. This usually takes education. This free video on how psychological attachments result in self-sabotage is a great place to start.
About the author:
Watch the free video The AHA! Process: An End to Self-Sabotage and discover the lost keys to personal transformation and emotional well-being that have been suppressed by mainstream mental health for decades.
The information in this video has been called the missing link in mental health and personal development. In a world full of shallow, quick-fix techniques, second rate psychology and pharmaceutical takeovers, real solutions have become nearly impossible to find. Click here to watch the presentation that will turn your world upside down.
Mike Bundrant is co-founder of the iNLP Center and host of Mental Health Exposed, a Natural News Radio program.
Follow Mike on Facebook for daily personal development tips.
Watch the free video The AHA! Process: An End to Self-Sabotage and discover the lost keys to personal transformation and emotional well-being that have been suppressed by mainstream mental health for decades.
The information in this video has been called the missing link in mental health and personal development. In a world full of shallow, quick-fix techniques, second rate psychology and pharmaceutical takeovers, real solutions have become nearly impossible to find. Click here to watch the presentation that will turn your world upside down.
Mike Bundrant is co-founder of the iNLP Center and host of Mental Health Exposed, a Natural News Radio program.
Follow Mike on Facebook for daily personal development tips.
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