Worry is LYING to You: Challenging the Usefulness of Worry

Video Description

Most worry is pointless. It doesn't solve problems, make you more productive, prevent bad things from happening, or make you a better person. Instead, it's like spinning your wheels and thinking about negative things that may never happen. This video discusses five common worry beliefs and how to challenge them: Worry helps me motivate me. Ask yourself if you're actually taking any action to address the worry. If not, then your worry isn't motivating you. It's just keeping you stuck. Worry helps me problem solve. Ask yourself if the worry is helping you come up with a solution to the problem. If not, then your worry isn't helping you problem solve. It's just making you feel anxious and stressed. Worry helps prevent future negative events. Ask yourself if you can control whether or not the negative event happens. If not, then your worry isn't helping to prevent it. It's just wasting your energy and making you feel bad. Worry helps protect me from future negative emotions. Ask yourself if the worry is helping you prepare for the negative emotions that you might experience if the bad thing happens. If not, then your worry isn't protecting you from negative emotions. It's just making you feel bad now. Worry represents a positive personality characteristic. Ask yourself if worrying makes you a better person. Does it make you happier or healthier? If not, then worrying isn't a positive personality characteristic. It's just a habit that is harming you. Excessive worry can also have negative consequences for your productivity, relationships, physical and mental health, and quality of life. If you find yourself worrying excessively, try the following: a) Identify what you're worrying about. b) Ask yourself what your proof or arguments are that support the usefulness of the worry. c) Challenge your worry beliefs by asking yourself what your proof or arguments against the usefulness of the worry would be. d) Ask yourself what the advantages and disadvantages of continuing to worry about this topic are. e) Draw conclusions about the usefulness of worry in relation to this particular topic. This process can help you challenge the potential benefits of the worry and realize that it's not helping you. To help with challenging the usefulness of worry, you can download a worksheet here: https://tinyurl.com/y45568tn Become a member to help support the mission of the channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_hrVE5btg_lY20sky_-55g/join Watch all of my videos for free at: http://www.psychologyvideos.ca For more information about Dr. Rami Nader, visit: http://www.cbt.raminader.com DISCLAIMER: The videos provided here on this YouTube Channel are for informational use only. The video content provided is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. These videos do not establish a psychologist/client relationship. Always seek the advice of your doctor or mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen on this channel. Dr. Rami Nader assumes no duty to correct or update the video content nor to resolve or clarify any inconsistent information that may be a part of the video content. Reliance on any content is solely at the viewer’s risk. Dr. Rami Nader hereby disclaims any and all liability to any party for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use of the said video content, which is provided as is, and without warranties. 38594 (99)