Chronic worry is prevalent. With the rising cost of living, due to inflation, and the challenges of finding meaningful employment in today's AI tech-driven society, and politically-divided economy, many Americans are more stressed, worried, depressed and angrier than ever. According to a Gallup Poll, over 51 million people in the U.S. have reported significant suffering from worry, despite their income and overall quality of life. 

Chronic worry is experienced when people think about their problems excessively. People who worry excessively are more likely to think negatively. They often dwell on their problems rather than solutions. Essentially, people who worry excessively often feel anxiety or uncertainty about a situation over which they feel powerless to control. 

Chronic worry can severely affect your mental, physical, and emotional health and prevent you from enjoying your life. In his book, How Not to Worry, Paul McGee, international keynote speaker and performance coach, reminds us that everyone worries, and that worrying about the challenges you face in life are unavoidable. However, worry becomes an issue only when it becomes excessive.

Chronic worry can lead to anxiety disorders, which is among the most common mental illness affecting 40 million adults in the U.S. Although the condition is highly treatable, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) reports that only about 36 percent of those suffering from anxiety disorders receive the proper treatment. 

The Problem With Worry

You Worry Because You Care

People worry about things that are important to them. It could involve any number issues related to family, health, finances, relationships and work. People may also worry about something that happened in the past, or something currently happening in the present, or that could potentially happen in the future. But the main reason why people worry is because of fear - the fear of being out of control. 

The Unholy Trinity

Worry, stress and anxiety are connected. It’s what McGee refers to as the “unholy trinity.” Because of the subtle connection between worry, stress and anxiety, these afflictions are often confused with one another. They can even feed off of each other, which is why some people may worry without realizing it. McGee says, “Worry is a form of thinking, anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling or emotion, and stress is the body’s physical response to a perceived threat.” In other words, worry can be the cause of anxiety and physical stress, or experiencing some form of physical stress or anxiety can cause you to worry.

Worry Can Age Your Brain 

Did you know that stressful life experiences can age the brain by up to four years, and African Americans are more likely to be at risk?...

Worry and stress can accelerate aging. The Alzheimer’s Association reported that stressful life experiences can age the brain by up to four years, and African Americans are most at risk. Researchers found that lifetime stressful experiences can worsen memory and thinking more strongly, especially in African Americans. 

For instance, African Americans experience 60 percent more stressful life events than non-Hispanic Whites over the course of their lifetime, which makes them high risk. High unemployment rates, discrimination, living in disadvantaged neighborhoods and experiencing high infant mortality rates, which elevates stress, are some contributing factors.

How to Release Worry and Start Living

If you worry excessively, then shifting your mindset and increasing your awareness is the first step. This will help you gain clarity about your fears so you can overcome your worries. Worry is an emotional disorder, so knowing when to seek professional help is also key. Increasing awareness can help to confront your fears. As you confront your fears, you may start to feel that you have more control over the situation. McGee recommends, first, asking yourself: what exactly are you worried about? Next, ask yourself: what can you do to make the situation better? If there’s some positive action that you can take, then do it. But if you find there’s nothing you can do about the situation, then learn from the experience, release the worry, trust that you can handle whatever happens next, and let it go.

Photographs by Jacob Lund

For more tips, read the full article, "How to Release and Let Go!" in the back issue of VERGE Lifestyle & Urban Culture magazine. Click here to buy the issue now and become inspired!