For the latest updates, support and guidance about COVID-19 and how we're supporting our customers, please visit our Coronavirus information hub.
Feel
Use this worry tree to help you cope
We all worry sometimes, and your worries may feel particularly hard to manage at the moment.
This interactive worry tree is designed to help you work through your worries, with tips and ideas on how to manage them better.
For the best user experience, please view this interactive PDF on desktop, rather than on mobile or tablet devices. If the viewer you are using does not support this PDF, try opening it with Adobe Reader.
What are you worrying about?
Start with identifying what it is specifically that you’re worrying about.
Is there something you can do about it now?
If there is something you can do, this is a practical worry. It’s a worry that you can do something about right now.
What can you do?
- Think about your options – you may want to make a list.
- Pick the best option and do it.
- Take comfort in the knowledge that you’ve done what you can and let it go.
If you’re worried about something that you can’t do anything about right now, then this is what’s called a hypothetical or ‘what if’ worry.
So what can you do if you’re in this situation?
- Be present. When your thoughts start to spiral, try to bring yourself back to what’s happening right now in the present moment.
- Try a relaxation exercise such as progressive muscle relaxation.
- Postpone the worry – give it a specific time and place when you can deal with it better.
- Write your worries down. Keeping a journal can help you get thoughts out of your head. When you look back at them, you may find the worry is no longer there.
- Practise accepting uncertainty – this can help you let go of wanting to predict and control every outcome.
If you’re concerned about your worries and they’re affecting your mental health, speak to your GP for advice and support.
If you’re worried about your mental health, our direct access service aims to provide you with the advice, support and treatment you need as quickly as possible. If you’re covered by your health insurance, you’ll be able to get mental health advice and support usually without the need for a GP referral. Learn more today.
Health information
At Bupa we produce a wealth of free health information for you and your family. We believe that trustworthy information is essential in helping you make better decisions about your health and care.
Our latest articles
Legal disclaimer
This information was published by Bupa's Health Content Team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been reviewed by appropriate medical or clinical professionals and deemed accurate on the date of review. Photos are only for illustrative purposes and do not reflect every presentation of a condition.
Any information about a treatment or procedure is generic, and does not necessarily describe that treatment or procedure as delivered by Bupa or its associated providers.
The information contained on this page and in any third party websites referred to on this page is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice nor is it intended to be for medical diagnosis or treatment. Third party websites are not owned or controlled by Bupa and any individual may be able to access and post messages on them. Bupa is not responsible for the content or availability of these third party websites. We do not accept advertising on this page.
For more details on how we produce our content and its sources, visit the 'About our health information' section.
^We may record or monitor our calls
