As teens, my buddy Steve and I shared a subscription to Mad magazine. It was an off-beat comic book that was ironic and funny—just the thing for two boys trying to figure out the world and their place in it.
The cover-boy hero (above) was a young man named Alfred E. Neuman. “What, me worry?” was his take on existence. The combination of his words and his face implied a serene idiocy, a kid who approached his life without a thought about the road ahead.
Steven and I are a bit older now—say, more than half a century. Though I can’t speak for him, we have changed a bit. We learned Alfred E. Neuman wasn’t an idiot after all. He realized that time is always short and one must make the best possible use without letting trepidation get in the way.
Beyond periods of productive consideration of his world and his life, Alfred might have also recognized that worry should be replaced by action. Wringing one’s hands, sweating in the face of a challenge, and losing sleep night after night are unproductive. Taking steps toward changing your circumstances offers at least a partial sense of control.
If he was troubled, I imagine Al chose to address what lay ahead, do his best, and not look back in regret. Despite this, I’m guessing no reader of Mad recognized him as a visionary and guide to how best to live.
We missed something.
Worry and the anxiety that follows from it are like glue. We walk along, step on the sticky spot, and get stuck. Distraction sometimes works to undo the spiraling cycle of dread; a favorite TV show might free us, shopping can provide the same service, but the sticky spot is still there, waiting patiently for us to return to its grip.
The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) offers this worksheet on mastering Worry. Small steps help reduce apprehension and anguish and make them manageable.
Robert Wu, a Chinese researcher based in Shanghai, wrote this for the April 19, 2025, New York Times:
Recurring periods of hardship in Chinese history have embedded in the nation’s psyche a capacity for endurance and fortitude. The phrase for this is “chi ku” or “eat bitterness.”
I prefer something sweet. Take a breath and remember all you have already triumphed over and everything you feared that never occurred. Your survival proves you have much of the “right stuff.”
Some self-distraction is necessary to enhance one’s life. Then, take those baby steps that will help dissolve your worry and make a difference when possible.
I hope Helena Bonham Carter’s funny reading of Mary Oliver’s poem “I Worried a Lot” boosts you.
Consider it a momentary antidote for the strange time in which we live.
We need for suggestions now Gerry.
I think Mad mag was a guy thing. But I like hearing about it now.
Yes we do, Joan. There is much work to do,. I bet some of the men in your baseball class remember !Mad
thank you for this lovely gift –
You are more than welcome, Beth.
Here is a link to that reading. Maybe you meant to include it.
https://www.instagram.com/femalepoetssociety/reel/C5qTfsroj14/
Thank you for this, Charles. I am not sure why the YouTube video didn’t appear. Some were able to see it. Any suggestions?
Helena Bonham Carter is excellent at reading poetry. Thanks for sharing. It has been a lifelong challenge for me to worry less and to laugh, dance, and sing more.
Keep going, Rosaliene. There is still time!
What me worry. Oh, what a great reminder!
Thank you, Brian. Mad was iconoclastic great fun, wasn’t it?
Love this momentary antidote, Dr. Stein! And also the wisdom that “time is always short and one must make the best possible use without letting trepidation get in the way.” Thanks for the encouragements and tips for resilience!
Trepidation is a monster we can often reduce to size. Life usually goes on. Thanks, Wynne.
Dear Doctor: You and I have corresponded before, but I forget the topic. But I cannot forget that before the demise of Mad Magazine, I had a letter published! It was Issue #426, February 2003. I’ve attempted to attach a photo of that published letter, but this Reply window will not accept it. Is there another way to send you that photo?
Thank you, Martin. I appreciate your loyal readership. You might try once more, now that I have approved your message. If that doesn’t work, there might be one other possibility. Let me know if you’re unsuccessful.
[…] you a worrier? It sure feels like there’s a lot to worry about these days. In this thoughtful post, Dr. Stein provides thoughts on worry and ways to overcome it. And he treats us to a delightful […]
I wonder how much worrying is a learned behavior. My mom was a worrier and so am I. As soon as I retired from teaching elementary school, much of my stress and worrying went away. Though I loved my career, I still have the occasional stressful dream about it involving some chaotic situation.
Thank you, Pete. I think it is individualized, and includes one’s nature, environment, parenting, etc. In my own case, I heard too many stories about WWII, fascism, the Great Depression, my mother’s childhood experience of poverty, etc. My dad’s heart attack when I was 11 didn’t help.
The good news is that there are valuable treatments available. Moreover, leading edge Boomers like myself lived in the best moment in world history, in the best place ever, with lots of opportunities if you were white. We still can remake ourselves on a small and large scale, in my opinion. We have to.