10 ways to conquer worry

Sometimes forcing yourself to think of the worst thing can be the best thing for an anxious brain. If you find yourself trapped in ‘what-ifs,’ a common state of mind for people with chronic anxiety, face your fears head-on: “If the stock market doesn’t recover, I won’t recover my lost savings and I’ll be forced to live on the street.” When you say it out loud, doesn’t it seem a little far-fetched? What’s more likely to happen?

Imagining worst-case scenarios accomplishes two things: it helps you see how unlikely the fear really is, and it helps you confront the fear head-on so you can prepare at least a tentative plan for recovery.

Sign up here to get your favourite Reader’s Digest’s stories straight to your inbox!

Source: RD.com