What is a worry Monster?
A worry monster would have you believe that they are terribly scaresome, fearsome creatures.
In acutality, they are rather loveable, goofy critters who get their name from their unusual diet...
You see, if you give your worries to a worry monster they will hold on to them for as long as you wish.
Should you ever be ready to part with a worry, they will gladly gobble it up.
There is no worry too heavy, scary, small or big for a worry monster.
Why Worry?
Worries can be useful sources of information, however, all too often, we use our imagination to furnish them with such looming, impregnable powers that we presume them unconquerable.
Perhaps, once upon a time, our worries were useful.
They kept us safe and warned us of very real danger.
Now, they are like a smoke alarm with a low battery; Screaming warnings indistinguishable from the real thing.
Or, they play the hits.
Just as you are drifting off to sleep-
Remember that horrible you did? Remember when your friend hurt your feelings? Remember when you were laughed at? Remember that time you felt foolish?
Some of us are especially good at worrying.
Our incredible skill can leave us breathless, shaking and quite literally petrified.How weak we feel! How lonely and retched and strange.
Even though it would be absurd to presume that others do not also worry.
Or perhaps that makes us feel worse; The thought that our worries are small and foolish and unworthy. The thought that such small things could freeze us.
The extent to which our worries are useful or reflective of reality must ultimately be our own puzzle to solve, but one thing is certain; We should not feel ashamed, guilty or worried about our capacity to worry.
Instead, we should look at our fear though a lens of patience, acceptance and curiosity. As though we were our very own dear friend.
CBT and the Wisdom of Worries
Based on the ideas around cognitive-behavioural therapy, My Worry Monster allows users to keep track of their worries in a neutral, non-judgemental and private environment.
- Identifying patterns and triggers
- Externalising and defining the limits of a worry
- Creating distance and perspective
- Clarifying specific causes of a worry
- Problem-solving
- Tracking progress
Sometimes our brains be filled with all sorts of invisible monsters. What might happen if we treated them with kindness and acceptance?
Screenshots
IOS
© 2023 HannahBeattie
My pet worry monster
Displayed on Iphone 8
Version 0.2.0
2023
Requires iOS 13.0 or later.
About the creator
Hannah Beattie is a freelance artist, coder and storyteller from Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Hannah credits their insatiable curiosity to autism and ADHD.
They are interested in making tech and STEM more accessable to visual learners, neurodivergent women and anyone who feels as though they do not fit in.
You can Check out their website here.
Or Read The Worry Monster origin story here.
