| Everyone worries. As bothersome as it is, worry isn't | | | | eat a balanced diet and try to get eight hours of |
| all bad, and can actually work for you. Worry can | | | | sleep a night. If you haven't had a physical exam in a |
| give you a jolt of energy, spark your creative | | | | while this may be the time to get one. And even |
| thinking, and help you to meet deadlines. The trick is | | | | though you're worried, make time for your friends |
| to keep worry under control and these tips will help | | | | and social activities.6. Get moving. Mayo Clinic |
| you do that.1. Identify the source. Though it can take | | | | psychologist Kristen Vickers-Douglas, PhD, in an article |
| days, weeks, or even months, identifying the source | | | | on says there's "substantial evidence that exercise |
| of your worry is time well spent. You may feel | | | | can enhance mood." You don't have to run a |
| anxious all the time, for example, constantly looking | | | | marathon or lift weights to boost your spirits, a daily |
| over your shoulder, and thinking something awful is | | | | walk will do it. Others find spritual comfort in |
| about to happen. Once you'e identified these feelings | | | | meditation.7. Appreciate nauture. Life is more beautiful |
| as anticipatory grief you can do something about | | | | when you take the time to appreciate birds and |
| them.2. See the big picture. Or as author Richard | | | | flowers and trees. Recognizing this fact, five |
| Carlson, PhD puts it, "Don't sweat the small stuff . . . | | | | Wisconsin towns got together and crafted the "Leaf |
| and it's all small stuff." Carlson says we let ourselves | | | | Your Worries Behind" tourism campign, a "relaxing |
| get "worked up over things that, upon closer | | | | autumn getaway in the Northwoods." No matter |
| examination, aren't really that big a deal." Getting a | | | | where you live, take the time to appreciate nature.8. |
| flat tire on the way to work is nothing compared to | | | | Watch fewer newscasts. In the era of 24-hour |
| chronic disease, famine, or terrorirm. Sometimes it's | | | | television newscasts the same stories are aired again |
| hard to see the big picture, so you may have to | | | | and again. Often these newscasts contain horrific |
| consciously de-clutter your mind to bring it into | | | | images, images that are stored in your mind. For |
| focus.3. Catch the laughs. According to a University | | | | peace of mind you may wish to watch one |
| of Maryland Medical Center study, humor is good | | | | newscast and skip the rest.9. Get help if you need it. |
| medicine. Michael Miller, MD, Director for the Center | | | | According to "Treatment of Specific Anxiety-Based |
| for Prventive Cardiology at the Center, says regular | | | | problems," a chapter posted on the Psychological |
| exercise and healthy eating can reduce the risk of | | | | Self-Help Website, chronic worriers fret for several |
| heart disease, adding, "Perhaps regular, hearty | | | | hours a day. What a waste! If you're a chronic |
| laughter should be added to the list." Miller thinks we | | | | worrier you may want to take a stress management |
| should incorporate laughter into our daily lives by | | | | course or talk with a trained counselor.10. Credit |
| reading funny stuff, watching funny videos, and not | | | | yourself. You've taken steps to keep worry under |
| taking ourselves so seriously.4. Start a solutions list. | | | | control and that's a huge accomplishment. Applaud |
| Keep your list on a computer or on a notepad. Every | | | | yourslf, cheer, or dance around the kitchen. Instead |
| time you think of a solution jot it down. Maintain your | | | | of being a worry wort you're making worry work for |
| list for a week and put it away for a few days. Then | | | | you. Good job!Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction |
| take it out, pick the best solution, and start working | | | | writer for 27 years and is a member of the |
| on it. The solution may not produce dramatic results, | | | | Association of Health Care Journalists. Her latest |
| but you've taken a proactive step and are moving | | | | book, Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief, |
| forward with life.5. Take care of yourself. Poor eating | | | | written with Lois Krahn, MD, is available from http;// |
| hbits and lack of sleep can make worry worse. So | | | | 2005 by Harriet Hodgson. |