ABSTRACT
Worry is the ‘cognitive’ or verbal component of the anxious response. Worry often begins with ‘what if …?’ questions and is often accompanied by anxiety and other negative emotions (e.g., feeling down or depressed). We all worry from time to time. In fact, worry can serve an important function in helping us to identify a problem that needs to be solved. Worry becomes a problem, however, when it is difficult to control, when it is associated with overwhelming emotional distress, and when it interferes with daily functioning. In Chapter 6, you will learn to identify the difference between helpful and unhelpful worry. This chapter also introduces a systematic approach to problem solving, including clarifying your goals, identifying and evaluating potential solutions that will best help you meet your goal, and generating a practical and manageable ‘to do’ list of steps for solving the problem. This strategy is likely to be particularly helpful for individuals who experience intense and frequent worry or for moments when you feel particularly overwhelmed.
