We all worry about something. However, some take it to an extreme and it controls their lives.{{more}} Many find they ask themselves, “what if…?” Worry has negative effects on health. Worrying creates nervousness because the brain sends chemicals through your body that creates many physical and emotional responses: tightening of muscles, increased heart rate, increase in blood pressure, feeling depressed etc.
When your neck muscles get tight, you experience headaches. If the muscles of your back get tense, you experience backaches. If the muscles of your stomach get tense, you experience digestive problems, and so on. You can easily find a medicine for every condition listed above but every medicine has undesirable side effects. Thoughts create feelings and feelings create behaviors. Worrying creates overeating, drinking, insomnia, etc. You can control your thoughts! You can heal yourself by changing your thoughts.
I have many clients who tell me their mothers were worriers and that’s what they learned. My mother taught me not to worry, telling me it was a waste of energy and that it never changed anything!
Anything learned can be relearned in a better way. Be an adult and take responsibility for your own thoughts. Reject old, outdated ideas and feel better by refusing to worry. Worrying is contagious. Avoid people who worry!
Worry isn’t about the present; it’s about the future. Since we cannot predict the future, we have choices. We can realize that in the present moment there is no danger and to enjoy it. When we change the way we think about something, we can change the way we feel about it. A good example of this is looking for a job. Some may worry that “I may never find a job.” Instead, think, “there’s many jobs out there, I will definitely find one that is right for me.” Both positions may be right, but one makes you feel hopeless while the other makes you feel empowered. Which would you choose?
I have a client who is angry with her husband because he won’t take care of his health. I suggested she focus on loving and enjoying him now because no one knows what tomorrow can bring. Her response was, “That’s going to be hard!” My response to her was, “If it’s hard, do it anyway.” Fake it till you make it. Living with worry is harder!
If you want to stop worrying, here are a few tips: Dale Carnegie, says “Ask yourself: What is the worst thing that could happen? Prepare to accept it. Then proceed to improve on the worst.” Realize that you’ll handle whatever happens whether you worry about it or not. Mark Twain said, “Worrying is like paying interest on a debt you may never owe.”
Change those negative thoughts to positive affirmations!
Self-talk is self-hypnosis. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis I am just a coach. I teach my clients how to use self-hypnosis to eliminate the effects of negative stress from their lives. Learn to eliminate the “what if” pattern and replace it with strategies for solutions. Then, let it go.
Learn to take slow deep breaths often and focus on the blessings in your life. Focus on what you have to be grateful for, realize you are happy and enjoy that feeling NOW!
Fern is a certified hypnotist, life coach and health educator. She can be reached at 203-283-4567. www.myhealinghypnosis.com.