Talking about worry, l think of the most anxiety-provoking time of my life.It was 2008, and l was pregnant with my first child.At my ultrasound checkup, my husband and i learned that our son would be born with a congenital(先 天的 y heart condition.This condition is fatal if not wst corrected through open-heart surgery within months of birth.for the remainder of my pregnancy, I was almost never completely free of

worry: How can we get him the best care? How will this affect his life?

Doesn't this mean that I should prevent worry as soon as possible? Yet, that is exactly the wrong thing to do.Suppressing thoughts and feelings never works-and paradoxically increases anxiety while reinforcing the

belief that worries are uncontrollable.

I discovered this for myself with my son's heart condition.My worries were constant and exhausting.but putting them aside didn't work, So l tried the opposite.I used my worries.Every time l worrieD. i went into

action mode: I read every paper published on the condition, I asked our nurses and doctors a million questions, and imagined best- and worst-case scenarios so l could plan each detail of my son's care.Gradually, I learn to worry smart and eventually worry less.

Our son is now 14 years old.He loves playing the piano, writing, and wrestling.As his doctors told us after his surgery, there are no restrictions on what he can do.

Comment 1

I agree, but meditation helps as well

Comment 2

I'm one of those “stare at the dark ceiling trying to get to sleep” worriers, I find that it helps tremendously if I run a mile after dinner.

Comment 3

Maybe these are good ideas; maybe not.Maybe some of them will work for some people and some not.But where is the science behind any of it?

Comment 4

If it were only so easy..especially for those of us who suddenly wake at 3 a.m.most nights where every problem and worry is magnified to the power of 10.

Comment 5

A simple way l look at this is to say to myself, “will i be a worrier or a warrior( 战士）？”Then I act on what l am worried about in some constructive way.