42 | June• 2019
TAMING THE ‘WHAT IFS’
their teeth are falling out. “They’re
probably biting off more than they
can chew,” explains Carsen. Other
worry dreams include running after
a train that’s already left the station
or showing up half-dressed for an
interview.
But not all worry dreams feel bad.
“Even some flying dreams, as much
as people like them, can signal that
you’re facing something way too
real, or way too heav y, and you’re
trying to rise above it,” says Carsen.
While frequent worry dreams
could be a cause for concern, Cars-
en says our dreams are more likely
to tell us about the apprehensions
we don’t recognise when we’re
conscious. If you have a recurrent
worry d ream, it’s time to consider
what m ight be troubling you in real
life. Once you face it, the dreams are
likely to end or transform into some-
thing new.The Importance of
Getting It All Out
Telling a friend or family member
what’s worrying you, or even say-
ing it aloud to yourself or writing it
down, can allow you to gain some
perspective. “It’s a little easier to
challenge worries – to recognise
that if there is a negative outcome,
it’s more of a hassle than a horror –
when your worries are on paper or
said out loud, rather than f loating
around in your head,” says Buhr.IS WORRY CONTAGIOUS?
Though it’s healthy to share worries
with others, when you’re surrounded
by friends who fret, you might no-
tice yourself feeling more anxious. A
2014 German study found that evenWARDING OFF
APPREHENSION
Taking care of yourself can
help protect you against
excessive worry:
■Exercise f or at least 2.5 hours
a week.
■Eat a balanced diet.
■Reduce c affeine and limit
alcohol.
■Limit s creens and social media.
■Get s even to nine hours of
sleep a night.
■Adopt stress-relieving habits,
such as yoga or hiking.
■Undertake activities that move
you out of your comfort zone.