“He's late—he was supposed to be here 20 minutes ago! Oh my God, he must have been in an accident!”
“I can't sleep—I just feel such dread… and I don't know why!”
Sounds familiar? These thoughts might race through your mind, each one piling on more worry and anxiety. The uncertainty can feel overwhelming, spiraling out of control until you get some sort of confirmation that everything is okay. It's like your mind is a runaway train of 'what ifs' and worst-case scenarios, and you can't find the brakes. This constant state of worry can lead to a range of symptoms that start to affect your daily life.
When you're worried about your partner not answering the phone or awaiting project feedback, it can lead to restlessness, muscle tension, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms may disrupt sleep and make you easily irritated. To cope, consider proactive strategies like changing your perspective on worries, calling friends for support, or using your physical senses to ground yourself. Additionally, when facing social anxiety at a party, being with friends provides a safety net, boosting confidence and easing worries.
In moments without a friend nearby, use your senses—see something nice, hear calming sounds, smell pleasant scents, taste your favorite treat, or feel comfort through touch or movement—to shift your focus and calm your nervous system.
Borkovec, T. D., & Newman, M. G. (1998). Worry and generalized anxiety disorder. Comprehensive clinical psychology, 6, 439-459. LinkPanayiotou, G., & Karekla, M. (2013). Perceived social support helps, but does not buffer the negative impact of anxiety disorders on quality of life and perceived stress. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 48, 283-294. Link