Worry Less: 85% of What You Fear Never Happens, Study Finds
A psychological study reveals that 85% of our worries never come true — and even when they do, most people handle them better than expected. Learn how this insight can shift your mindset and reduce anxiety.
We all worry — about money, relationships, health, our future. But what if most of that mental stress is based on things that never even happen?
According to a study referenced in Dr. Robert Leahy’s book The Worry Cure, a staggering 85% of the things people worry about never actually come true.
Yes, you read that right — 85%. That means most of the fears keeping you up at night are just smoke and mirrors created by your brain.
The Study Breakdown
Participants were asked to write down their worries over an extended period. Later, researchers followed up to see which of those worries actually came true.
Here's what they found:
-
85% of the worries never happened at all.
-
Of the remaining 15% that did happen, 79% of people said they handled it better than expected or learned something valuable from it.
-
That means only about 3% of worries led to real problems — and even then, most people came out stronger.
What This Means for You This isn’t just a fun fact — it’s a wake-up call.
Most of us spend hours stressing about worst-case scenarios that don’t happen. The mental energy wasted on fear and anxiety could be used to focus, grow, or just relax.
Perspective is Power Instead of spiraling into “what if” mode, recognize when your thoughts are fear-based fiction. Practicing mindfulness, journaling, or even talking to someone about your worries can help bring clarity and calm.
Takeaway: Your Worry Isn’t Reality Worry might feel real, but stats say otherwise.
Next time your mind jumps to the worst, take a deep breath — chances are, it’s just your brain running wild.
What's Your Reaction?
