Use Distraction

Since I can’t get my daughter in right this exact minute, I have some idle time on my hands while this process unfolds. While action and answers may deliver the biggest blow to my worries, I still need to get through this time without falling apart. Distraction is my other tool that I use.

Even though I’m writing this article about the very topic I’m worried about, the act of typing and constructing my thoughts puts my brain in a different mode than just all-emotion-all-the-time. By the genius of human evolution, human brains are only capable of truly holding attention on one thing at a time. You may think you are multitasking and giving attention to four things at once. But really, you are just vacillating back and forth between things.

Here’s why this can be helpful. When you distract from something bothersome, it takes the wind out of its sail for a little while. Constantly stewing on something can give it much greater power than if it is broken into smaller chunks . Getting lost in work for a few hours gives your brain a break from worrying about your sick child. Going for a run gets your brain focused on moving your body and breathing hard. Doing a bunch of yardwork gives you a tangible, purposeful task to put your mind to.

Could your mind occasionally wander back to your worry during this attempt at distraction? Yes, it certainly can. But even small amounts of interruption can kill the momentum of a building worry storm. During times when you can’t take meaningful action on the problem, distraction can get you through. Perhaps you will feel more relaxed and another solution will roll into your mind. Or, you will simply feel more relaxed when your mind does wander back and you can remind yourself of what you have planned to take care of it, and you can then shove it aside for a while longer.

Keep Carrying On With A Smaller Worry Load

You may not be able to carry a large load consistently, without interruption, very well without collapsing. But you can probably carry that load several times with breaks in between and have the endurance to fight another day. And certainly, if it is a problem for which there is no good solution, distraction may be your main weapon against a heavy burden of worry.

In all reality, we could go to the doctor here and come back with no good answer. Then I’ll be up against this process all over again, worry with no road to follow. It’s a process that has to be followed over and over and over again to keep rampant worry at bay. As long as I take action and use distraction, I know I’ll get through it. And I hope after following my story, you can keep your worry burden a little lower, too.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 20 Jun 2009
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.