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WHILE worry is often considered a negative emotion that should be avoided for the sake of mental health, a study published in Psychology Today shows that worry has an adaptive function when maintained at a manageable level.
Thomas D. Borkovec, a clinical psychologist from Pennsylvania State University in the United States, explains that worry functions like a “mental safety belt” that helps individuals prepare for various possibilities. His research since the early 1980s has demonstrated that worry encourages people to engage in “what if” scenarios in anticipation of threats or undesirable outcomes.
The study explains that worry is not a flaw in the human mind, but rather a coping mechanism for uncertainty.
In her 2017 study, social psychologist Kate Sweeny from the University of California, Riverside, found that mild to moderate levels of worry can encourage preventative behavior and emotional preparedness for bad news.
Research has indicated that individuals with anxiety tendencies tend to be more attuned to errors and changes in their environment. This awareness can facilitate decision-making, provided it does not lead to excessive anxiety that disrupts daily activities.
According to British clinical psychologists Graham Davey and Adrian Wells, worry is a natural response to uncertainty, with the brain actively working to find a solution to the problem. This perspective is thoroughly delineated in their study, titled “Worry and Its Psychological Disorders: Theory, Assessment, and Treatment,” published in 2006.
However, psychologists advise against distinguishing between constructive and unproductive worry. Healthy worry can motivate individuals to take action, while repetitive, aimless worry can potentially lead to mental exhaustion and anxiety disorders.
The mindfulness approach, a psychological practice that trains individuals to be aware of their present thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations without overreaction, helps individuals manage worry without eliminating it.
Research by Delgado and colleagues in 2010, as reported by Psychology Today, indicated that participants in mindfulness training continued to experience worry, but were able to observe it more objectively and focus on problem-solving. [antaranews/photo special]
