Dubai: “I over-worry about everything, everyday, all the time. I worry to the point where my hands go cold and my muscles tense up,” says Mariam Yousuf.
The Dubai resident is a compulsive worrier and has been up against the problem for the last six years. She has lost count of the sleepless nights that she has endured in a state of anxiety worrying about every conceivable scenario that tomorrow might bring.
The 21 year-old Lebanese worries about everything from a future project or conversation to the task of picking out an outfit for a weekend party.
“Worrying consumes me,” says Mariam. “I can’t stop it, and I feel like no one understands.”
There are many like Mariam who can’t stop worrying. If you’re one of those people, then the reason behind your constant state of anxiety could very well be genetic.
However, the solution to the problem also is in your own hands.
Dr Rose Logan, a clinical psychologist from the UK at Lighthouse Arabia in Dubai, told Gulf News that while worrying is a normal reaction to stress, it can often spiral out of control and, in some cases, become a clinical condition.
Given that there are bound to be worrying aspects to things, some people are more prone than others to fret excessively and lapse into clinical anxiety.
“We are all susceptible to worry; however, there are certain biological, environmental, and historical factors that might make it more likely for someone to struggle with over-worry,” Dr Logan said.
Anxiety often has a genetic element to it as it is often seen to run in families, she said.
Getting stuck with this trait can be paralysing, she added. When a sense of concern over every situation and of the unknown spirals into a constant state of fear and uneasiness, it can be detrimental to one’s health.
“Worry often rears it’s head at night or at times of solitude and can quickly begin to affect sleeping, eating, social engagement and energy levels, which may be the first signs that normal worry is becoming a clinical issue,” Dr Logan said.
Worrying excessively can also be part of an anxiety disorder, she said. “At the clinical end of the spectrum, worry and anxiety are primary symptoms of anxiety disorders including GAD [Generalised Anxiety Disorder], social anxiety, health anxiety, panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorders.”
Such worrying could also start very early in life and persist into adulthood.
Dr Mary John, clinical psychologist at Dubai Clinical Health Centre, said that over-worrying and anxiety can also stem from a particular incident or event in a person’s life such as an accident, a loss, a dire medical diagnosis, or a relationship break-up.
High levels of anxiety can generate panic, affecting everything from sleep, appetite, motivation, social and community engagement, to performance at work.
Worriers often become concerned and anxious unnecessarily and begin to procrastinate when dealing with something that they are worried about, Dr John said. “They usually think of the most extreme negative scenarios of a situation and start acting on it, which leads to anxious behaviour, panic, sweating, heart palpitations and the inability to think or act in a correct manner,” she said.
She added that a more positive and optimistic person will react to a situation in a proactive manner when they can really sense danger. “Worriers however, will think of one incident in the most negative possible manner and follow it with a series of negative scenarios,” she said.
PANACEA
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be a simple and effective solution to avoid the tendency to worry about things, Dr Logan told Gulf News.
This routine could include exercise, meditation, taking the time to unplug from electronic devices and relax, getting adequate sleep, and maintaining a good diet.
“Not only has a healthy lifestyle shown to significantly impact mood, but taking up one or some of these practices can also considerably reduce levels of worry and anxiety.”
However, a person suffering from a clinical anxiety disorder might need to seek professional help. “They may find that while maintaining a healthy lifestyle helps, they also need to address the underlying beliefs and assumptions that they operate by to find ways of breaking unhelpful patterns of behaviour,” Dr Logan said.
This is usually done through therapy sessions with a psychologist, or taking prescribed medication.
Dr Logan said that high stress levels and low levels of support are two critical factors in anxiety disorders. “Especially in a place like Dubai, it is important for people to look after themselves and make time to relax.”
Despite receiving the same advice countless times from family members and friends, Mariam said her obsession with overachieving has pushed her into a world of constant fear and panic. “It’s become a part of my nature to over-worry, but I am hopeful that it’s not too late to change,” she said.