The Trick Worry Plays
What's something people do when they're worried that feels helpful but actually keeps worry going?
Reassurance-seeking, checking, avoiding, over-preparing, etc.
If you had to explain Worry Time to a friend in one sentence, what would you say?
A scheduled time to think about worries instead of worrying all day.
What is worry?
Repetitive thoughts about a future threat or “what if” that feels uncertain or out of our control.
Name one skill that helps interrupt worry.
Grounding, breathing, mindfulness, labeling thoughts.
I can be cracked, made, told, and played.
What am I?
A joke
Finish the sentence: "When I worry too much, I usually ______."
Varies. Look for avoidance, overthinking, checking, etc.
What should you do when a worry pops up outside of Worry Time?
Write it down and save it for later.
Why does worry feel helpful even when it isn’t?
Because it tricks the brain into thinking that thinking = problem-solving or prevention.
What is an unhelpful response to a worry?
Rumination, catastrophic thinking, avoidance, reassurance-seeking.
The more you share me, the less you have of me.
What am I?
A secret
If worry were a person, what would it say to you all day?
Examples: "What if?" "Are you sure?" "Think about it one more time."
What do you think would be hardest about using Worry Time?
Postponing worries, resisting reassurance, forgetting to use it.
Why do people often worry more at night?
Fewer distractions, quieter environment → more room for thoughts to loop.
What is a helpful response to a worry?
Problem-solving, acceptance, grounding, or taking action.
A doctor gives you three pills and tells you:
“Take one every 30 minutes.”
How long will the pills last?
1 hour (not 1.5 hours);First pill is taken immediately, not after 30 minutes
What's a worry that many teenagers seem to have?
Answer: Friends, dating, grades, appearance, future, fitting in.
When do you think Worry Time would be most useful?
During stressful periods, transitions, tests, relationships, etc.
What role does uncertainty play in worry?
Worry increases when people feel uncertain and try to gain control through thinking.
Why do thoughts feel like facts when we are anxious?
Emotional reasoning—feelings make thoughts seem true.
You are in a dark room with one match.
There is an oil lamp, a candle, and a fireplace.
What do you light first?
The match
What do you think would happen if you worried about something for 24 straight hours?
Anxiety would likely increase without solving the problem.
Why might Worry Time work better than trying not to worry at all?
Fighting worries often makes them stronger; Worry Time creates boundaries.
Why can excessive reassurance sometimes increase worry over time?
Why can reassurance sometimes increase worry over time?
How can someone tell if they are problem-solving vs worrying?
Problem-solving leads to action; worry loops without resolution.
A man is outside in the rain without an umbrella or hood, yet not a single hair on his head gets wet.
How?
He is bald