The upside of anxiety

Would you describe yourself as a worrier? You may also be a good problem solver.

New research suggest that a bit of worrying may be good for you. The study published in the journal Emotion found that worrying while waiting to learn results of something may help you cope with the outcome.

Researchers followed 230 law students waiting for results after taking the bar exam. Participants were asked to complete questionnaires on their anxiety levels every two weeks during the four-month waiting period. They also completed a questionnaire about how they felt once their exam results had been released.

The study revealed two things: it was difficult for participants to cope with their anxiety over the results, and those who were anxious during the four-month period were more pragmatic if they received bad news, and more joyful to good news.

“How we feel about things that happen to us depends in part on what we expected,” lead study author Kate Sweeny told Yahoo Health. “If we expect the worst, even a mediocre outcome feels pretty good in comparison; if we expect the best, even a decent outcome feels disappointing.”

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Researchers suggest that trying too hard to suppress anxiety – by distracting yourself with activities like yoga, talking with friends, watching TV, the more aware you can become of those worries. “The more you try not to pay attention, the more aware you become,” Sweeny told the New York Times.

Turns out, worrying a little can help you cope with the outcome as preparing for the worst can help you find the silver lining.

While there is an obvious downside to too much worry, the study shows a bit of pragmatic worrying can help you receive bad news. According to Sweeny it means, “you’re preparing yourself well for the moment of truth.”

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