Worry, Sleep Loss, and Health

Have you ever been really emotionally involved in a situation? Perhaps your loved one was ill and in danger of dying. Maybe you had just lost your job and had no idea how you were going to pay all the bills piling up. Or perhaps somebody you knew had just made a horrible decision and you knew the outcome wasn't going to be good. Whatever was the cause, you were very worried.

And when night came, then your worry kept you awake. You could not fall asleep. You might try warm milk, counting sheep or whatever, but it doesn't work. You are still worried and still wide awake. And growing more tired by the hour.

You know you have to get up tomorrow, and your inability to fall asleep is really starting to worry you. Its really ironic: you are starting to worry about being worried. How many of us have spiraled in on this situation.

I suppose you could take a sleeping pill. There are hundreds of different varieties available. But it seems to me that every sleeping pill made has potential side effects, and that worries me. Yet another worry!!

If you could just relax and stop worrying, you would fall asleep almost instantly. You are so tired. And so very worried.

The fact that worry never helped a single situation probably never occurs to you. Of course you might be of the mind set "what do you mean worrying doesn't help. Most of the things I worry about never happen!!" Implying that if you did not worry about them, they might happen.

Worry can rob you of sleep, and ultimately of health. Believe it or not, worry is a choice. I choose not to worry.

No more worrying,
David A. Youngs