Are you a worrier?

[Tigger&Belle]

Do you worry about things before they've even happened (and therefore before you even know for sure it's something to be concerned about?).

If not, have you always been this way or have you made an effort to change that personality trait?

I'm trying to not worry about things before they happen, but it's not easy and my tendency is to worry, which creates anxiety in me. When I can let go of things until it's time to deal with them I am much more relaxed.

 

[edwardsfire]

Not in the least bit.
My philosophy: Be optimistic, it makes for a better life.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I agree...have you always been that way? My mom was a big worrier and I'm not nearly as bad as she is/was, but still do too much.

 

[Cool-Beans]

It's funny that you asked about changing it.

I WAS a worrier. I come from a long line of female worries on the maternal side. DGM stayed up all night worrying about my aunt's curtains once. My mother worries about all manner of stupid crap.

I started to go in that direction and dad said I was turning into my mother...it got DH to thinking and we had a talk about it and I swore to everyone that I was NOT like my mother. Swore up and down. Raised my voice. Very emphatic. ...but I started wondering - privately, to myself - that they might be right.

I keep the words of dear old dad in my head whenever I start to get upset over stuff. "THAT isn't stress. STRESS is when you're being shelled and you're too drunk to find your foxhole. You have NO stress."

Puts things in perspective.

I caught myself. And now I can honestly say that although I do worry a little about the kids on occasion, I am not a worrier. I do not borrow ahead on trouble.

It's a lot easier.

 

[MushyMushy]

I'm a bit of a worrier by nature, but one of my first signs of depression is constant and irrational worrying. It's also one of the last symptoms for me to really get a handle on. I hate it! My mind gets stuck in this endless cycle and I have to make an enormous effort to snap out of it. I wouldn't wish that on anybody.

 

[DisneyMomOK]

A little worry is good, but stress to the point of obsession is not. I used to stress over everything, but it never helped. Now, I just try to worry a little, but just enough to take care of business.

 

[DMickey28]

Worry and Anxiety is my middle name.

I am trying very hard to be positive and focus on the positive things in my life. I am learning to distract myself when I start to worry. It's harder to do but it works for me. I also have to take a mild OTC sleeping pill or I wake up in the middle of night worrying.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

Yes, I worry! I never really did before I had kids. I am always fearful they are going to have some sort of accident. That said, I have a friend who worries her kids are going to be kidnapped. That doesn't worry me. Go figure!

 

[pfishgirl]

I have never been a real worrier in advance.. Yes, I worry about things they day they are suppose to happen but not enough to stop me from doing it..

But, I am a BIG planner.. I Plan almost Everything...

I have to have my daily planner with me at all times, always

I plan according to the weather, like, what day I will grocery shop that week.. If it is going to rain or be frigid cold, I won't got grocery shopping.. or I will pick the warmest day of the week..

I don't go to the bank on Mondays or Fridays, because those are the busiest days for a Bank..

I have our dinners all planned for the week, according to our schedules.. DS is in College, DH Works & I have Volunteer work.. I know what to keep in the frige to defrost for the 2 days it normally takes..

 

[JessR]

no I dont worry

 

[clutter]

It's funny that you asked about changing it.

I WAS a worrier. I come from a long line of female worries on the maternal side. DGM stayed up all night worrying about my aunt's curtains once. My mother worries about all manner of stupid crap.

I started to go in that direction and dad said I was turning into my mother...it got DH to thinking and we had a talk about it and I swore to everyone that I was NOT like my mother. Swore up and down. Raised my voice. Very emphatic. ...but I started wondering - privately, to myself - that they might be right.

I keep the words of dear old dad in my head whenever I start to get upset over stuff. "THAT isn't stress. STRESS is when you're being shelled and you're too drunk to find your foxhole. You have NO stress."

Puts things in perspective.

I caught myself. And now I can honestly say that although I do worry a little about the kids on occasion, I am not a worrier. I do not borrow ahead on trouble.

It's a lot easier.

I'm a reformed worrier, too.

You know, the lightbulb for me was when I realized that worrying meant that you had no faith in the abilities of whomever you were worrying about.

In my case, I realized that my mother's worrying really caused all kinds of problems for her kids and ours. The bottom line is that if you're worried about your kids, what you're really saying to them is "I don't have the faith in you or your abilities to get through this." I quit cold turkey by simply reminding myself of that. My mom's argument was that she'd never actually SAY something in front of them. However, she didn't have to. We all knew what she was worrying about. Consequently, we didn't share much of the tough times of our lives with her. The two of hardest periods I ever went through, I did not tell her about until it was over. I found I could cope better knowing that she wasn't secretly undermining my faith in myself.

 

[geffric]

I worry about the small stuff.. like car accidents when the kids are driving in the ice and snow..if I and DH will be riffed this month and what we will do to get other job.. and of course.. why am i here in -17 when last year at this time I was at WDW..

 

[momrek06]

24/7

 

[alexandmaddie]

24/7

Me too...

 

[ntsammy5]

Why yes, yes I am. have changed over the years for the better though. many years......

 

[hereyago]

My DM who is 75, yes, all her life has worried. I honestly think at times she likes it because she wants people to calm her down to get attention.

I am like my DF, yes there have been some worry moments, but all in all if I had to waste my likfe worrying bout things I can and cannot control, I don't think I would want to live.

 

[Green Tea]

I am such a worrier. Panic. Anxiety. All of it. A simple phrase has helped me a lot though:

Just because you can imagine it doesn't make it true.

I have learned to try to talk myself through stressful things; and I think the triggers are different for every person. For example if you are afraid of driving in winter weather; talk back to yourself. Say most people do not have a wreck. The people that do get in accidents do not, for the most, die. Things like that.

 

[luvflorida]

Do you worry about things before they've even happened (and therefore before you even know for sure it's something to be concerned about?).

OH. MY. GOSH. You just described me!!!

I worry all the time about things that haven't happened. I'm always working on solutions to situations that haven't even come up. Must be prepared.

My husband is not a worrier AT ALL, so it's a good thing I worry enough for the two of us.

We are leaving in a few hours and driving from Arizona to Florida. I have plenty of new things to worry about. How many college pals will my daughter bring over to the house for the long weekend? Will someone remember to feed the cat and empty his litter box? Will there be a lot of traffic? What item will I forget to pack? Oh, I could go on and on, but I'll spare everyone!

 

[GoldieSaysMeep]

Yes.

I take anti-anxiety meds rarely if it gets really bad.

One thing that has really helped me and my BF (also a worrier) and I make it a point to ALWAYS talk about whatever is on our minds at the first sign of a worry-freak out. It helps. Just knowing I have someone who understands what worry is like and who listens helps and vice versa. This helps feel like I'm not alone, and like maybe I can think of a more rational way to handle worrisome situations.

My suggestion would be to find someone you can easily talk to about these things who understands and doesn't judge. Not as easy as it sounds. If none of your friends are like that, I'd go so far as joining a support group, online or otherwise.

It helps. It really does.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I caught myself. And now I can honestly say that although I do worry a little about the kids on occasion, I am not a worrier. I do not borrow ahead on trouble.

It's a lot easier.

I think that's a lot of it--borrowing trouble. I have enough trouble of my own to not want to borrow more!

I'm a bit of a worrier by nature, but one of my first signs of depression is constant and irrational worrying. It's also one of the last symptoms for me to really get a handle on. I hate it! My mind gets stuck in this endless cycle and I have to make an enormous effort to snap out of it. I wouldn't wish that on anybody.

Yep, very true. My worrying got worse when my depression got worse a couple years ago. I think for me some of it was a control thing and I didn't feel much control in my life. Still don't, but I'm making small changes to gain some control.

Worry and Anxiety is my middle name.

Wait, wouldn't that be middle names?

I'm a reformed worrier, too.

You know, the lightbulb for me was when I realized that worrying meant that you had no faith in the abilities of whomever you were worrying about.

That's a really important point! When worrying about things that involve other people I will try to remember that.

For me, personally, I'm learning to turn some things over to a higher power and know that I am not given more than I can handle. Basically having some confidence in myself.

I worry about the small stuff.. like car accidents when the kids are driving in the ice and snow..if I and DH will be riffed this month and what we will do to get other job.. and of course.. why am i here in -17 when last year at this time I was at WDW..

Hi geffric!

OH. MY. GOSH. You just described me!!!

I worry all the time about things that haven't happened. I'm always working on solutions to situations that haven't even come up. Must be prepared.

Scary, isn't it? I think you SHOULD worry about what your cat has planned for you since you took him out of your signature.