The Emotional Toll of Worry

Mar 2 , 2025
By Eden Sahle

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Last week, I spoke with an expecting mother from church. After congratulating her, I shared my excitement. Out of curiosity, I asked where she was going for prenatal checkups. To my surprise, she said she had not started yet. Though already in her second trimester, she was terrified of visiting a hospital.

I hugged her, acknowledged her fears, and gently encouraged her to begin checkups for her and her baby’s safety. I understood. I had been the same during my own pregnancy. My husband and I worried constantly, holding our breath until we saw our daughter on the ultrasound or heard her heartbeat through the Doppler. Our anxiety eased slightly in the later months when she started kicking nonstop, reassuring us she was well.

We thought our worries would end once she was born. We were wrong. Parenthood means a lifetime of concern for your child’s well-being.

No matter what people do, not worrying takes courage. Protecting one’s minds and focusing on what one can control, rather than what people fear, is a constant challenge, but it makes people stronger.

Worry is as human as breathing. It creeps into people’s thoughts, takes hold during the day, and whispers uncertainties about the future.

In a world filled with personal, political, environmental, and economic instability, it is no surprise that worry is more common than ever.

Medical professionals say some level of worry is useful. It helps people prepare for bad times and pass through risks. But when worry becomes excessive, it turns into a heavy burden. It clouds thoughts, steals peace, and affects health and decision-making.

At its core, worry is part of the brain’s survival instinct. Humans evolved to anticipate danger and take preventive action. Human ancestors needed to stay alert, whether to a predator in the bushes or an approaching storm. Worry helped keep them safe.

Today, fears are more psychological than physical. People no longer worry about wild animals. Instead, they stress over bills, their children’s futures, job security, or their health.

The amygdala, a small but powerful part of the brain, processes emotions like fear and anxiety. When it senses a threat, it triggers stress responses. The hearts race, the muscles tense, and the minds go into overdrive.

The problem comes when this system stays on high alert. Chronic worry, also called generalised anxiety, keeps the brain in a constant state of tension. This leads to exhaustion, irritability, and health issues like high blood pressure, digestive problems, and weakened immunity.

Worry does not just affect the body, it takes an emotional toll. It traps people in a cycle of “what if?” scenarios, imagining worst-case outcomes that may never happen. This robs people of joy in the present.

For many, worry is deeply personal. A parent stays up at night thinking about their child. A student panics over an exam, fearing failure before even picking up a pen. Someone else lies awake wondering how to provide for their family. These worries are real, raw, and deeply felt. They come from love, responsibility, and the need for security.

But when worry becomes overwhelming, like the expecting mother I met, it paralyzes instead of protects. It makes people indecisive, afraid to act, and stuck in negative thought patterns. It can also push people away, as fear keeps them too distracted to fully engage with those they love.

The mind and body are deeply connected. What affects one impacts the other. Chronic worry keeps the body in a constant state of stress, leading to serious health problems. The release of stress hormones, especially cortisol, weakens the immune system, making us more prone to illness. Over time, it can cause digestive issues, headaches, and even heart disease.

Studies show that excessive worriers often suffer from migraines, muscle pain, and gastrointestinal problems. Sleep disturbances are common. An anxious mind struggles to shut down at night, leading to fatigue, poor concentration, and a reduced ability to handle daily challenges.

Fortunately, while worry may feel overwhelming, it is not uncontrollable. Much of it comes from trying to control the uncontrollable. People stress over things beyond they reach. Shifting focus to what one can control, and developing faith, helps ease unnecessary anxiety.

Staying present in the moment is a powerful antidote. Instead of spiralling into the unknown, mindfulness anchors people in the present. Simple techniques like deep breathing and stopping overthinking can interrupt anxious thoughts and bring clarity.

Worry distorts reality. We imagine worst-case scenarios, exaggerate threats, and underestimate one’s ability to cope. A useful approach is to challenge these thoughts. Often, simply questioning fears weakens their grip.

Constant exposure to stress, whether from social media or difficult people, fuels anxiety. Taking breaks from negativity, stepping away from social media, or setting boundaries can make a big difference.

If a worry is within control, taking small steps toward a solution helps restore confidence.

Talking to mentors, family, or a trusted friend can also help. Sometimes, simply voicing a concern makes it feel less daunting.

It is important to remember that worry is not a weakness. It often arises from one’s care for loved ones, their future, and their well-being. But when it becomes overwhelming, people must take steps to manage it rather than let it control one’s lives.

Perhaps the most comforting thought is this: most of the things people worry about never happen. Research suggests that about 85pc of worries never materialise. Even when they do, people often cope better than they initially feared. This reminds that worry tends to magnify fears beyond what reality reflects.

When worry weighs people down, like it does for some expectant mothers, they should remind themselves that uncertainty is a natural part of life, so is resilience. Instead of being consumed by fears of what may never occur, one should focus on the present moment. It is too precious to be overshadowed by worry.

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PUBLISHED ON Mar 02, 2025 [ VOL 25 , NO 1296]

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