What’s The Worst Advice Ever ?
Do you remember that song, popular a while back, “Don’t worry, be happy”. It was catchy and engaging – and really invalidating. Most anxious people have the experience of being told by the people who love them “not to worry,” as if not worrying is an action a person can engage in, like going for a run or eating breakfast. Unfortunately, this advice just makes you, the anxious person, feel like your loved ones don’t understand and may even increase your anxiety as you try to compensate for what you view as their carelessness and lack of worry.
So, if you are a worrier – and many of us are – explain to the people around you that you want them to understand how you feel, not try to fix your feelings.
Of course, that does not mean that you are now off the hook for figuring out ways to feel better. “Not worrying” requires more than a slogan. The work of learning how to control your anxiety belongs to you, and the job of your family members is to support you while you do it.