Summarize:

Sometimes, trying to suppress your worries seems to just make them worse. So, don't try to ignore your worries. When they pop into your head, accept them, but then try to move on. It is hard to avoid thinking about something you are actively trying not to think about. Writing your worries down or setting a designated "worry time" can be very helpful in letting them pass. When you do think about your worries, a good way to process them is to categorize them. Specifically, for each try to determine the following: Is this problem one you can solve, or not? If a worry is about a problem you have the power to fix, the best remedy may be to start fixing it. Once you have a plan to fix the problem, you will be less worried. If you cannot solve the problem, accept it, work through it and move on. Is this worry about something that is likely, or unlikely, to happen? A worry about something that is likely to happen may indeed be troubling. On the other hand, if you decide it is not likely to occur, this can be a first step in letting that worry go. Is this worry about something about something really bad, or not? Think about what it is that you are worried might happen. If it did occur, how bad would it really be? Most things we worry about aren't actually that terrible. If you decide it wouldn't be a catastrophe, this can help you let go. That's doubly true if it also isn't that likely to happen! Throughout this process, try to think rationally. Ask yourself what evidence you have that your worry is a realistic one. Think about what you might tell a friend who had the same worry. Try to imagine the most likely outcome, rather than the worst-case scenario. If there is a specific worry that bothers you often, you can try to make it boring, so your brain will return to it less often. Do this by repeating it in your head again and again for several minutes. For example, if you worry that you might get in a car accident, repeat in your head the words "I might get in a car accident, I might get in a car accident." In the short term, this may increase you anxiety. But, after a little while, the words will lose their power and become boring to you. Chances are, they'll stop popping up in your mind so often after that. An important change in your thinking is accepting that life is unpredictable and imperfect. This is key to stopping worries in the long term. A good place to start this change is with a writing exercise. Jot down your answers to these questions: Is it possible to be certain about everything that might happen? In what way is needing certainty helpful to you? Do you tend to predict bad things will happen just because you are uncertain? Is that reasonable? Can you live with the possibility that a bad thing might happen, if that outcome is not likely? When worries come to mind, try to remind yourself of your answers to these questions. Emotions can be contagious. If you spend a lot of time with other worriers, or people who make you anxious, you may want to reconsider how much time you are spending with those people. Spend some time thinking about the people you spend time with, and how they affect you. It may even be helpful to keep a "worry diary" that tracks when you worry most. If you find that it's right after seeing a certain person, you may decided you need to spend less time with him or her. Or, you might decide there are certain topics you don't wish to discuss with this person any more. Changing your social circle can change the way you think. Most worries rise from fears about the future, rather than our immediate surroundings. Focusing on you surroundings and the moment you are experiencing can be a good way to shut down worries. Some people recommend a "stop, look, listen" technique. In this approach, when you are worrying, stop and recognize the worry. Take a deep breath. Then, look at your surroundings. Spend five minutes focusing on the details of the world around you. As you do so, speak calmly and reassure yourself that things will work out.
Recognize your worries and move on. Categorize and challenge your worries. Make your worries boring. Accept uncertainty and imperfection. Think about social influences. Live in the moment.