What Are You Worried About?

We are in a season of change, in an era of unprecedented change – so of course we all worry sometimes!

Just turn on the news or scroll through your news updates on your phone. Discussions about politics, economics, weather patterns, and even the changing seasons become a constant stream of speculation, fueling our worries.

Worry is a universal response to uncertainty. And this thing called ‘worry’ tricks us into thinking we’re solving problems, when often we are amplifying stress and stealing the joy out of the present moment. 

The concept of worrying is interesting. I spent some time digging into why we worry and what it’s doing to our brains and bodies? Spoiler alert – it’s not helping!

From an evolutionary perspective, worrying once served a purpose. It helped our ancestors anticipate danger and prepare for potential threats, like predators chasing us or a food shortage. But in today’s world, threats are less physical and more psychological.  That same survival mechanism, once critical to staying alive, is now often working against us. 

Here’s a fact that I keep reminding myself about - Our brains are wired to prioritize survival over happiness. 

So, while we are playing a mental game of “what if,” the worry is taking a toll on our physical health. From headaches to heart strain, the impacts of worry are far-reaching and the scary part – they are often invisible until they build up over time and hit us hard.

Here are some things that happen in your body. I think you will see that managing worry is essential for your overall well-being.

The Physical Cost of Worry

When we worry, it’s not just in our heads. Our bodies respond in very real ways, often preparing for threats that never come. Worry affects your health:

• Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure Worry triggers the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These chemicals are designed to help us respond to danger, but this response can strain our cardiovascular system over time. They keep your heart rate and blood pressure elevated and increase your risk of heart disease.

• Muscle Tension and Pain Ever notice tight shoulders or a stiff neck after a stressful day? That’s worry manifesting physically. Constant tension can lead to headaches, back pain, and even long-term musculoskeletal problems.

• Weakened Immune System
  Chronic stress redirects your body’s resources away from immune function to focus on perceived threats. This leaves you more susceptible to colds, infections, and slower recovery times.

• Digestive Issues Your gut is deeply connected to your brain. Worry can disrupt this communication, leading to symptoms like stomachaches, nausea, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). I was going list some IBS meds here to call you all out – but the list of meds was too long! Someone is making a lot of money off of your worry.

• Sleep Disruption Racing thoughts can make it hard to fall or stay asleep. Over time, poor sleep adds to fatigue, impairs focus, and exacerbates health issues. (Another long list of sleep meds – someone is cashing in on this worry too!)

Why Our Thoughts Keep Looping 

While writing this, I started to worry about worrying! That can’t be good.

Understanding why we worry can help us take control of it. Remember, worry is rooted in our survival instincts. When faced with uncertainty, the brain’s amygdala—the fear center—sends out an alert, prompting the release of stress hormones.

When faced with unpredictability, our brains crave control. Uncertainty sets off alarm bells in the amygdala, the part of our brain responsible for processing fear and stress. This triggers the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, preparing us for a fight-or-flight response. While this system works wonders when we’re dealing with physical threats, it’s not as helpful when the “threat” is an unresolved email, an unexpected expense, or a major life decision.

This worry system is designed to keep us safe, but in modern life, it works against us. Instead of protecting us from physical threats like predators, it kicks into gear over unpaid bills, deadlines, or personal dilemmas. Our prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making, tries to “solve” the problem by imagining every possible outcome. This leads to overthinking, which amplifies the stress response even further. (that means more IBS or more trouble sleeping)

One study found that 91% of the things we worry about never actually happen!

Break the Cycle 

While worry is natural, it doesn’t have to run your life or ruin your health. The first step thing we have to do is recognize when worry is taking a physical toll on us. Awareness, paired with stress-reducing habits like deep breathing, exercise, and mindfulness, can help reset your nervous system and protect your health. I’ll share more ideas of to-do’s in my next blog.

For now – just be mindful that you are doing it.

And let that worry remind you… to pause, not panic. 

Your health will thank you.