If you’re constantly feeling stressed over an upcoming exam, a performance review at work or even nothing in particular, you may be a chronic worrier. Unfortunately, excessive worrying can result in serious consequences for both your mental and physical health. Understanding the reasons behind worrying can help get it under control so you can spend more time enjoying life, instead of dreading what might or might not happen next.
Do women tend to worry more?
Research has found that women are more likely than men to report worrying. But why?
Some researchers point to cultural roles, including the responsibilities of motherhood, that make women more sensitive to fret over different issues. Another possible factor could be the fact that women usually have lower average incomes. This is because even though women worry more than men, research shows that women with young children at home don’t worry any more than women without kids.
Being hardwired to worry is human
As it turns out, everyone is wired to worry, to varying degrees. Worrying is part of the human experience, and it made our ancestors watchful for danger and threats to themselves and their kin, experts note. Worry is a highly motivating emotion that helps humans solve problems.
Research has found a genetic component to worry but, it is also related to environmental factors. For instance, individuals whose parents divorced are about 70 percent more likely to experience chronic worry, tension and anxiety due to their parents’ behavior. Also, overly anxious parents are more likely to rear chronic worriers.
When does natural worry become a problem?
While worrying can play a beneficial role in warding off danger, it can cross the line toward an anxiety disorder, and chronic worriers may begin to see potentially dire consequences in nearly every person or situation they encounter.
Chronic worrying can affect relationships, sleep, appetite and other important lifestyle factors like work performance. It can trigger the body’s natural stress response, resulting in surging adrenaline, and can lead to health problems including:
- Dizziness.
- Headaches.
- Trouble concentrating.
- Fatigue.
- Irritability.
- Muscle pain.
- Nausea and digestive trouble.
- Trembling.
- Shortness of breath.
- Short-term memory loss.
Left untreated, excessive worrying and a high level of anxiety can lead to serious mental illnesses, including depression.
Learning to reduce worry and handle stress
While a certain level of worry is endemic to the human experience, excessive and constant worrying can result in major mental and physical health problems. If you feel that worry is interfering with your daily life and relationships, consider quality mental health treatment specialized to fit your unique needs.
Pasadena Villa programs set out to create a comforting environment while promoting mental health and a socially fulfilling future. Our mental health professionals work directly with residents. They observe them in actual social situations and incorporate these observations directly into the resident’s ongoing treatment plan. This individual real life personalized attention makes the Pasadena Villa treatment experience more appropriate, relevant and beneficial for each of our residents, especially when compared to any other available adult residential treatment mental health services.
As one of the very first programs in the country to base its treatment upon Social Integration, our mental health facilities offer help through a unique mix of individualized therapy and group residential programs with a clear focus towards achieving more independent living. Pasadena Villa Orlando and Pasadena Villa’s Smoky Mountain Lodge are adult intensive psychiatric residential treatment centers for clients with serious mental illnesses. Pasadena Villa’s outpatient center is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. We also provide other individualized therapy programs, step-down residential programs, and less intensive mental health services, such as Community Residential Homes, Supportive Housing, Day Treatment Programs and Life Skills training. If you or someone you know may need counseling on mental health services, please fill out our contact form or call us at 407-574-5190 for more information.
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