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Do you ever get so worried about something, anything, that you begin to physically shake or sweat? Does your worrying interfere with your sleep, job, or romantic relationships? Do you worry about something one minute that seems trivial the next?
The fact is that some of us worry more than others. There are people like me in the world, those of us who let every nuance of worry flood our emotions, and then there are the people who don't understand why we can't just snap out of it. I would need a mathematician to keep track of every time someone has said to me, "Why don't you just chill out?" or, "Don't be silly."

If I could stop worrying, I would. It just isn't that easy.

Some people truly need professional help to deal with these worries. Adult children of alcoholics, for instance, are notorious for creating chaos in their lives. These individuals grow up with the chaos of living with an alcoholic, and often they need worry to feel safe, or normal. This requires some professional help to solve, and not surprisingly, a strong support group.
People who worry because of chemical imbalances in their brains need medication to heal. This is not a badge of shame; it is simply the only way to "fix" the worry. Believe me, it is be more than worthwhile to trade your pride for your burdens in the case of anxiety.

If you are either ashamed to seek professional help, or feel that you can deal with your worry on your own, here are some suggestions to help you overcome the fear of everyday life:

1. Know the worst case scenario. Identify the problem (and be specific), and then decide what the worst thing that can happen as a result of this problem is. If you can accept the worst case scenario, then the lesser ones are not so bad.

2. Have a feel-safe friend on hand. Someone who knows how you worry, and who can listen without telling you that you are crazy, is a huge help. Often when something is said aloud, it stops growing in your mind.

3. Exercise. Rigorously. Sweat until you are too tired to think. If you are like me, a four-mile run usually does the trick.

4. Make lists. Most worriers are afraid that they will forget their worries of they don't deal with them right away. Make lists of things to worry about later, and then procrastinate.

5. Read a sad story. Get involved in someone else's tragedy so that your own seems less significant. Even if it doesn't make you forget, maybe it will help put it into perspective.

6. If all else fails, stand on your head. The ridiculousness of your action will help, and the blood rushing to your head will provide a temporary release physiologically.

And always remember, you are NOT ALONE! There are hundreds of people like us, who can't just "chillout."

Learn more about this author, Meghan Cooper.
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