It’s a myth that women worry more than men, but being more communicative than men, women do tend to talk about their worries more.  And while talking about our worries can ease them, it can also reinforce them as we hear about the troubles and concerns of others.  So how can women break the cycle of worry—or from a mental and physical health perspective, stem the damage that can occur due to unrelenting anxiety, especially in a time of such dire economic difficulty?  Since worry seems to be rampant right now, we thought we’d answer some of the most common worry-related questions that we hear:
Q: How can women stop worrying so much?
A: It takes a great deal of self-awareness to realize that you are a chronic worrier.  The trouble with worry is that our culture tells us that responsible people are supposed to worry, so if we’re not worried, we feel as though we’re ignoring problems.  However, worry accomplishes nothing.  It is a useless emotion.  One way to stem the tide of worry is to be aware of the uselessness of worry, but one of the best ways is to find ways to relax what Buddhists call the “monkey mind,” the racing thoughts that lock us in a maze of anxiety like rats.  Meditation is wonderful for this.

Q: Is worrying “contagious”? Is there any way to avoid catching it?
A: It can be, if you let the worries of others start you worrying about the same issues.  This can be a sign of a generalized anxiety disorder, in which people worry about extremely unlikely events.  One of the best ways to avoid the worry “contagion” is just to avoid spending time with people who are chronic worriers.

Q: Are people born worriers, or made?
A: A little of both.  People who worry constantly about even the most remote possibilities may suffer from generalized anxiety disorder, a medical condition that we think can be inherited.  But worry is also a habit, and women who grow up in an environment where one or both parents worry about everything and instill fear of the unknown in their children may see that as a normal way of thinking and regarding the world.  So worry appears to be part nature, part nurture.

Q: What do people do when they worry—eat more, drink more, etc.?
A: There’s no single pattern of behavior.  Look at your own friends: some are probably “stress eaters,” who eat more when they’re worried, while others lose weight during stressful times because they can’t eat a thing.  Where we become concerned as physicians is when someone begins doing something potentially self-destructive because of worry, like self-medicating with drugs or alcohol.

Q: Have any studies or polls been done on worry?
A: Yes.  One of the more recent ones was a study of global poll results done by the University of Kansas working with the Gallup Organization.  It found that the link between positive emotions and good health is very strong.  You can find more about the study at www.news-medical.net/?id=46535 or at the University of Kansas website, www.ku.edu.

Q: Do people worry more today than in the past? Did people worry a ton during the Great Depression?
A: There isn’t much hard data about worry rates from today versus 60 years ago.  But the consensus is that people today tend to worry more than their parents and grandparents did because of global media and the Internet.  For example, during the Depression there was no TV or Internet.  Most people’s worlds were confined to their neighborhoods or cities.  So while they may have worried about their own economic situation, there was probably less of that “the sky is falling” anxiety that we find today when every news report talks about rising unemployment and the moment a financial collapse occurs, it’s all over the Internet in minutes.  With more knowledge and more awareness of the world come more reasons to worry, if you’re looking for them and if your emotions overcome your rationality.

Q: Can worry impact your looks? If you’re constantly furrowing your brow, can it cause wrinkles?  I’ve heard that if you force yourself to smile, you activate areas of the brain that make you happier, plus you avoid those worry wrinkles to boot. Is this true?
A: Worry can indeed impact your looks, but not as directly as you might think.  Frowning and furrowing your brow can certainly imprint lines in your face over time, but wrinkles are really caused by the natural effects of aging as our skin becomes less elastic over time.  You can’t avoid them.  The more direct impact of worry comes when worry causes you to neglect your self-care: to eat poorly, not cleanse and moisturize your skin, abuse alcohol, take up smoking or fail to protect your skin from the sun.  Also, keep in mind that frowning and worry affect your Inner Beauty, too, as people perceive you as someone negative who is not enjoyable to be around, regardless of your looks.  As for smiling, it’s always a good idea, because smiling tells your brain to release serotonin and dopamine, the feel-good neurochemicals that improve mood.

Q: What worries have you struggled with in the past and how did you cope?
A: We all struggle with the worries that come with aging: parents becoming ill, our own bodies starting to show signs of age and the loss of some of our youthful beauty, and certainly right now, economic worries.  In general, we find that no matter what the worry is, the “Three Ps Rule” really helps us handle whatever comes along: 1) Perspective.  Step back and get some perspective on the situation.  Is it really as bad as you fear?  What are the facts?  2) Plan.  What scenarios could play out and what will you need to do to be prepared for them?  3) People.  Don’t try to deal with things alone.  Share your fears and talk to the people who care about you.  It’s amazing what a difference support makes.