• Summary

• Introduction

• STEP 1
  Check out all physical symptoms

• STEP 2
  Understand your body's emergency response

• STEP 3
  Change your attitude!

• STEP 4
  Practice your breathing skills

• STEP 5
  Practice formal relaxation skills

• STEP 6
  Use paradox

• STEP 7
  Approach your goals through small steps

• STEP 8
  Handle your worries

STEP 8: Handle Your Worries

The Don't Panic Self-Help Kit, Section W: Handle Your Worries  Don't Panic, Chapter 14. Your Mind's Observer Don't Panic, Chapter 15. Finding Your Observer Don't Panic, Chapter 16. Taking a New Stance: The Supportive Observer

Let's face it. Everybody worries some of the time. Some worries are important signal of tasks that need to be accomplished.  Other  worries are repetitious, unproductive thoughts that make you feel anxious or upset. They show up against your will, and you seem to have little control over them. Once you start worrying, it's hard to stop. Often you'll worry over things that others consider small or insignificant. And sometimes the more you try to argue against the worry, the stronger it becomes.

Whenever you have worries, your task is to handle them, one way or another. And that is just what this section will teach you.

• Handling worries as "signals"
• Handling worries as "noise"