If the current state of the economy is getting you down, you need to “hang loose.” Fretting over matters that cannot be changed can have a detrimental effect on your health and well being. Taking positive action when you feel worried about something will put you in the driver’s seat and help reduce anxiety.

Have you noticed that, despite the spectre of self-fulfilling prophesies, most of what you worry about never comes to pass? You may also have heard the expression “Eighty per cent of what we worry about never happens and ten per cent of worries we can’t do anything about anyway.”

If this estimate is true, we have legitimate control over a mere ten per cent of our daily concerns, yet we spend a great deal of time fretting over the remaining ninety per cent.

In an interesting analogy, The Essence of Success by Earl Nightingale talks about the Washington Bureau of Standards* statement that a dense fog covering seven city blocks to a depth of 100 feet, is composed of less than one glass of water. That fog can be compared with our worries, blinding us to the world, asserts Nightingale. Yet in reality all it amounts to is far less than we could ever have imagined.

A certain amount of worry and concern is necessary to our survival and the well being of those we care about. Being concerned about the fact your teenage daughter isn’t home when her curfew arrives, for example, worries you and prompts positive action: You call or text her to see that she is OK, then plan to talk it over with her the next day after school. In short, you are able to do something about it. Worrying yourself silly about the current volatility of money markets makes very little sense, however, as this is a matter outside of your control.

Get in the driver’s seat

One of the reasons we worry is that rehashing matters over and over in our minds makes us think we are doing something about the situation. In fact, the only thing we are doing is making ourselves stressed and miserable. Far better to forget about the things we cannot change, and take positive action on those that we can. Some counsellors believe that we should take action on any matter of worry, as the mere act of doing something positive when presented with the worry gives us the feeling of being in the driver’s seat and therefore having some control over the matter.

An action plan for anxiety

Here are some effective ways to stop worry and anxiety taking over your life:

Ask yourself, what is the worst thing that could happen? When worrying over a possible loss of a job, for example, the result would likely not be as bad as you first imagined. Try to visualize something positive resulting instead of something negative. For example, a new job that you may enjoy better and would offer you better prospects.
Ask yourself, what is the true likelihood of the worry actually manifesting itself? The chance of the stock market not rising again, for example, is far more unlikely than likely.
If the problem seems insurmountable, try writing everything down. Don’t try to solve the problem, simply lay it out in black and white. Getting the issue out of your head and onto paper represents an important step in facing that fear and letting it go. Many people who keep a daily journal say it helps them release their worries and anxiety.
Take action concerning the problem. When you act on something, it shifts your focus away from nagging thoughts, replacing them with purposeful thoughts that will yield a positive result. For example, instead of endlessly worrying about your aging mother, who insists on living independently, invest in a personal emergency response package, or suggest the family chips in to buy one.
Remember that a trouble shared is a trouble halved. If you don’t want to discuss your fears with people you know, find a support forum on the Internet. These are usually frequented by people who want to share and provide possible solutions.
Take a natural health supplement such as vitamin B complex or valerian to help sooth frayed nerves.
Finally, never be afraid to ask for professional help. Just talking out loud often helps you to put things in perspective. A good counsellor (or trusted friend) will often help you to see another side to your concern one that may be far less troublesome.