Worrying can be a productive way to stave off problems, but for many people, worrying about things can become more vexing than the original problem they were grappling with. Robert L. Leahy, director of The American Institute for Cognitive Therapy, recommends asking these two questions to keep worry in its proper place:

1.  Is the problem plausible or reasonable? If you’re getting ready to take a trip to a national park, for instance, it’s appropriate to worry about getting accurate directions and your car tuned up before you go. Worrying about being shot by a sniper along the way, which is unlikely, is probably a waste of time.

2.  Can something be done about the problem immediately? If you answer yes to this question, then you can probably come up with an action plan to get something done that will alleviate your worry. To continue the previous example: Can you get on the Internet and get directions? Can you get an appointment with a mechanic? As for the sniper, unless you can afford a new bulletproof car and a wardrobe of Kevlar, forget about it.

January 2008 Newsletter