Worrying About Your Health…and Everything Else

Worried about the state of the country? Worried about meeting a work deadline? Worried about being kidnapped walking through your neighborhood in broad daylight? Worried that you are worrying too much?

There is, according to research from the University of California, Riverside, a worrying sweet spot. Worrying too much may be paralyzing, keeping you from doing anything productive or helpful. Not worrying enough could leave you vulnerable and exposed to the unexpected. So where is this desirable middle ground?

According to the study, some worrying is actually productive and may result in preventive and protective behaviors. The right amount of worrying may benefit both mind and body.

An example of the motivating benefits of worrying just the right amount: Researchers found that women who worried moderately about cancer were more likely to conduct regular breast examinations and go for regular mammograms and other cancer-screenings.

Worrying prepares one for action, according to the research. If a person is concerned about an event or an outcome, they will create a “plan b” or seek out other ways to prevent the undesirable outcome or a worried-about result from happening, often making them successful problem solvers.

And the right amount of worrying isn’t only beneficial to your health. Researchers found that oftentimes people who report frequent worry may also perform better in school and in the workplace.

Worrying, as any sufferer will tell you, is by no means an enjoyable feeling and often thought (especially by annoyed non-sufferers) to be a negative behavior.

However, worry can be a positive motivator: Worrying about completing tasks on time at work may motivate you to finish your work in a timelier manner. Worrying about the state of the country may motivate you to become involved in your community. Worrying about being kidnapped in broad daylight may…uh…motivate you to run faster.

What kind of worrier are you?

Image credit:

Alon / CC BY-SA 2.0