JAKARTA - Negative emotions are often perceived as something that must be suppressed or eliminated in order to maintain mental health. Worry, for example, is often seen as a source of stress that disturbs peace of mind.
However, a number of psychological studies actually show that emotions such as worrying are not always harmful. In certain levels, worries can play a positive role and help individuals face various challenges in life.
A study published by Psychology Today revealed that anxiety has an adaptive function as long as it is at a level that can still be managed. Instead of being destructive, anxiety can actually be a mental tool to prepare for uncertain situations.
Clinical psychologist from Pennsylvania State University, United States, Thomas D. Borkovec, explained that working concerns are like "mental safety belts" that help a person anticipate the worst possible outcome. His research since the early 1980s has shown that concerns encourage individuals to run various "what if" scenarios as a form of preparedness against threats or undesirable outcomes.
"Worry is not a fault in the human mind system, but a mechanism for dealing with uncertainty," as explained in the study, as quoted by ANTARA.
Similar findings were presented by a social psychologist from the University of California, Riverside, Kate Sweeny. In her 2017 study, she found that mild to moderate levels of worry can trigger preventive behavior as well as help emotional readiness when faced with the possibility of bad news.
Various other studies also show that individuals with anxious tendencies often have a higher alertness to changes and potential errors around them. As long as it does not develop into excessive anxiety, this alertness can help the decision-making process and self-adjustment.
British clinical psychologists Graham Davey and Adrian Wells explain that worry develops as a way for the brain to maintain focus on unresolved issues.
By keeping the problem active in the mind, the brain is encouraged to find a solution. This view is described in a study entitled "Worry and Its Psychological Disorders: Theory, Assessment and Treatment" published in 2006.
However, psychologists emphasize the importance of distinguishing between constructive and unproductive concerns. Healthy concerns encourage real action and planning, while repetitive concerns without direction can actually trigger mental fatigue and increase the risk of anxiety disorders.
One approach that is considered effective for managing concerns is mindfulness, which is the practice of being aware of thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations in the present moment without excessive reactions.
Delgado and his colleagues' 2010 study, reported in Psychology Today, showed that mindfulness training participants continued to experience worry, but were able to observe it more objectively and shift their focus to problem-solving.
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