Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-15
WhyGrow Old?
Do Your
Worryingot
A Set Time

The trouble with most worriers
is they substitute worry for
action.
I had the pleasure recently Of
talking with one of New York's
distinguished physicians. He
gives his patients this prescrip-
ton: "Set aside a certain time
each day in which to worry. II
you feel the need Of it. Take
5 or 10 or Is minutes every
day and worry just as hard as
you can. Don't loaf on the job!
Worry constantly and strenu-
ously during the time you have
allotted to it. But afterwards
do not worry until the set time
the next day"
This seems to me to carry a
lot of wise and practical pSy-
chology. In the first place. ii
you worry every minute of the
S or 10 or Is minutes you
have set aside for that, you will
be so bored with worrying that
you will be glad to forget it for
another "a hours. especially when
you know that your orders are
to worry again tomorrow.
Hones Over Him
The great fault of the chronic
worrier is that he mulls over his
worries all through the day and
often at night. He doesn't do
his worrying in one big dose.
Some worry occurs to his mind,
then he is interrupted, has to go
about his duties, and even has
a happy thought once in a while
in between worries, but the haze
of worry hangs over him all Of
the time and he grabs onto his
worries the first time he has a
moment of leisure.
Be honest with yourself when
thinking over the things you
worry about! OF course some of
them will be legitimate. Heaven
knows, life puts on enough pres
sure with which we must deal.
However, how much of your
worry is about things which have
not happened and will probably
never happen; vague fears and
breads and pessimistic thoughts?
I believe in using preventive
measures in life as we'll as medi-
cine. It certainly would be stupid
to be so unperceptive that we
can't see the storm signals and
just sit and watch the hurricane
approaching, without ever lifting
a hand.
If you can do anything about
avoiding the approaching storm
or .lessening the one you are
already in. do it! If not, worry
only at certain times, so that
even when in the midst of diff
f1culty, you may still snag some
laughter and joy from living.
They Shore Worries
It seems too bad that worry
and problems consume most of
the time husbands and wives
have together. This is natural!
Both live very busy lives and
especially when they have chill
dren, their time alone is limited.
Therefore when they have time,
they feel that they must discuss
their mutual problems and re-
sponsibilitieS.
They often see their marriage
partner as he or she really is
only when they are with others.
So. I am going to add my
prescription to that of the
famous New York physician.
Remember his! If you are q
chronic worrier, worry only at
set times each day. Here is
mine: If you are married and
both live complex lives and have
many responsibilities. plan q
time in which to discuss your
problems. In the meantime for
get them! You may want to
plan a once-a-week session.
Most problems will wait that
long. During the rest Of the
week just drift and enjoy living!
You may think that this is
silly, but it works. Many SEEM
ingly silly psychological first
aids are practical and helpful
Don't live in a haze of worry anc
problems, no matter what they