We may say “no worries” — but most of us are anything but calm.

Older people who worry are more likely to have a mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression.

A recent Cambridge University review of 1,200 studies found that women, as well as adults of both sexes under the age of 35, are at the greatest risk of developing anxiety. Women are nearly twice as likely to experience anxiety as men.

Whether it’s over finances, relationships, work, friends, grades, or health, about 38 percent of us worry every single day, a Liberty Mutual Insurance white paper reported. We worry the most in the morning and at night.

Big deal, right? We worry. Who cares?

It is a big deal, actually. The numbers are concerning, as worrying can lead to an anxiety disorder. Generalized Anxiety Disorder affects 6.8 million adults, or 3.1 percent of Americans each year, the Anxiety and Depression Society of America reports. Pathological worrying is not so much about the content of the worry as it is the perceived lack of control and intensity of anxiety.

Dr. Simon A. Rego, a cognitive behavioral psychologist from New York who assisted with the insurance company’s research, said worrying can have short- and long-term impacts on our health. That said, most of us don’t seem to be trying to curb our fretting. Our culture actually seems to make it “cool” to multi-task and live in a constant state of anxiety.

“Experts believe we worry as a way to anticipate things that could go wrong, because we want to protect what we’ve worked hard to achieve, like new purchases for the home or even a new car,” Rego told LifeZette.

“While it’s easy for people to believe this is simply a normal way to live and they can handle everything, this constant busyness can lead to increased stress and anxiety, and ultimately, to more worry,” Rego added.

To “own your worries,” schedule a session to let them all out. Write them down for a 30-minute period, then be done with them.

Who do you think would win the Presidency?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

Stress is known to cause a variety of serious health conditions, including high blood pressure, immunity issues, inflammation, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, pain, and fatigue. The Mayo Clinic reports stress can interrupt sleep, cause us to workout less and overeat, drive us to alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, and lead to outbursts. (Chances are you already knew that.)

Why We’re Freaking Out
The report found that those in the 25-to-44-year-old category worry about housing and financial issues. Another study found that health worries increase as old age approaches — but the prevalence of worries also goes down with age.

Older people who worry are more likely to have a mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression, Dr. Graham C. L. Davey, a psychology professor at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, said in a 2013 Psychology Today article.

Some worries are needless, while others can have positive outcomes. Worries can help us better prepare for anything — if we acknowledge the fear and take action to prevent a disaster. For example, if you haven’t thought through what you will do in the event your car breaks down, you could be caught unprepared. Don’t obsess about it, of course. But if you can be legitimately prepared for a flat tire, it eliminates a whole lot of stress.

[lz_ndn video=30958851]

Breaking the Cycle
He said people may not know they can teach themselves to control worry. Doing so can lead to fewer regrets later in life about having spent so much time worrying — especially when so many of our worries never actually occur.

“If we’re able to learn how to focus on being in the moment without judgment, we are better able to assess what’s realistic and what’s not, then make clear-minded decisions about what to do,” he said.

Rego said to “own your worries,” schedule a session to let them all out. Write them down for a 30-minute period, then be done with them. Changing our mindset about uncertainty can also help us go with the flow better, he said.

A 2000 study from the University of Cincinnati found that when people wrote down their worries for two weeks and listed the outcomes, they found 85 percent of outcomes were positive. When a negative thing happened that they had worried about, 79 percent coped better than they thought they would.

“Instead of worrying when things are uncertain, take steps to make certain of what you can, then learn to ‘lean in’ to situations that you can’t completely control,” he said. Slow down and see if your worries are legitimate. Worried about buying a new house? Seek out resources to help you in your research and note to yourself that information is available to help you.

Remind yourself that your mind is on autopilot in uncertain situations, and it’s just generating worries because the uncertainty is triggering it. That doesn’t mean you have to give in to the self-induced stress.