dealing with worry

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dealing with worry" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing how to manage or cope with feelings of anxiety or concern. Example: "She has been focusing on dealing with worry through meditation and mindfulness." Alternative expressions include "managing anxiety" and "coping with stress."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For example, if your spouse becomes angry and talks down to you if your child becomes critically ill, it could be his/her way of dealing with worry or even panic.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Lean pickings Honey, we shrunk the hospitals High society Ed's dangerous dream ReprintsThat means weaning the public off the idea that most local hospitals should offer most services and dealing with worries about transport to distant facilities.

The Economist

Dealing with worries and demands from close family was also linked to a higher mortality risk, the study said.

BBC

I do not believe physicians are taught or want to deal with worry or anxiety.

Harvard University

This may explain the value many people find in therapy dogs, which are trained to help people deal with worry, unhappiness and anxiety, and have been found to even reduce the perception of pain.

The Washington Post

"Sunday morning we're going to deal with worry and why it won't solve our problems," said Rob Zinn, the pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland.

Los Angeles Times

The groups can help deal with worries about attendance at cocktail parties, for example, or other networking events.

The New York Times

Last week, 9,000 callers tried to contact the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS), its most frantic week so far, to deal with worries about the strain of Christmas on family budgets.

The Guardian - Money

Several other farmers are keen to take slurry to spread on their own fields, and ways to deal with worries over water pollution are being squared with the EA.

The Economist

As long as Republicans control the White House, Democrats will not be able to pass far-reaching measures to deal with worries about pension benefits, health insurance and job security.

The Washington Post

I just couldn't deal with worrying about it all the time".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dealing with worry" when you want to emphasize a continuous effort or a psychological process. It is more descriptive than simply saying 'worrying' because it implies a level of agency or a coping mechanism.

Common error

Avoid using "dealing with worry" when you actually mean 'solving a problem'. Dealing with worry refers to managing the emotional state of anxiety, whereas 'addressing a problem' refers to fixing the external cause. Use the phrase strictly for the emotional context to ensure clarity.

Linguistic Context

As a gerund phrase, "dealing with worry" acts as a noun phrase that describes the ongoing process of managing emotional distress. Ludwig confirms that the structure is standard English, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence to denote therapeutic or self-help actions.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "dealing with worry" is a highly effective and grammatically correct gerund phrase used to describe the proactive management of mental distress. While Ludwig AI notes that exact matches for the singular form are relatively rare compared to variants like "deal with worry" or "dealing with worries", the phrase remains a staple in reputable publications such as The New York Times and The Economist. It serves a vital communicative purpose in health, science and lifestyle journalism by framing worry as a manageable process rather than an immutable state. Writers should feel confident using it in both neutral and formal contexts, provided they distinguish it from the external resolution of problems.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

managing worries

Pluralizes the object, focusing on multiple specific instances of concern.

managing anxiety

Shifts the focus toward a more clinical or physiological condition.

coping with stress

Broadens the scope to include external pressures rather than just internal thoughts.

handling concerns

Suggests a more administrative or objective approach to specific issues.

addressing apprehension

Uses a more formal term for fear regarding future events.

processing fears

Implies a deep psychological or therapeutic exploration of emotions.

navigating uncertainty

Uses a metaphorical approach to describe moving through unknown situations.

tackling nervousness

Focuses on the immediate physical or short-term feeling of unease.

mitigating unease

Emphasizes the reduction of the intensity of the feeling.

resolving anxiety

Suggests reaching a definitive conclusion or cure for the worry.

FAQs

How to use "dealing with worry" in a sentence?

You can use it as a subject or object, for example: ""dealing with worry" requires patience and specific mental techniques" or "She is currently focusing on "dealing with worry" through therapy."

What can I say instead of "dealing with worry"?

Depending on the tone, you could use "managing anxiety" for a more clinical feel or "coping with stress" for a more general context.

Is "dealing with worry" formal enough for academic writing?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in academic contexts. However, researchers might prefer more technical terms like "emotional regulation" or "anxiety management" for greater precision.

What is the difference between "dealing with worry" and "dealing with worries"?

The singular form "worry" refers to the general state or concept of anxiety, while "dealing with worries" usually refers to a list of specific, individual things that a person is concerned about.