Stress and worry are part and parcel of every day life and from health concerns to financial troubles, it seems we all struggle to switch off at night.
In some cases worrying can be helpful when it spurs you on to solve a problem but, equally, it can be an oppressive force that prevents action and bars success.
This week, MM took to the streets of Manchester to conduct a short survey to find out what worries us the most.
WORRYING PATTERN?: Money, health and finance concerns topped MM’s findings
Of the people who chose family, 55% of them ranked it as their number one worry.
Career propspects was ranked second with 45% of people who picked it ranking it second and money was people’s third biggest worry with 39% of people who picked it ranking it third.
Participants also expressed concern over ‘political instability’ in Ukraine and throughout the Middle East and their ‘lack of confidence’ in the ability of the world’s political leaders.
Younger participants, between the ages of 18-21 often listed their grades as their biggest worry as ‘they are essential for a good adult life’ and one person admitted worrying about ‘living life to the fullest’.
Vicci Owen-Smith, 52, a public health consultant from Withington told MM: “I worry about poverty in the city and the fact that the richer are getting richer and the poor, poorer.”
POVERTY: Vicci Owen-Smith said she worried ‘the rich were getting richer’
Norther Quarter artist, Mei-Lee Chen, 24 said she was most worried about the dreaded thought of her parents falling ill and dying.
“I’d have to look after myself. That makes me sound awful, of course I would miss them but I don’t know how to pay a bill.”
The 24-year-old also said she worried about becoming ‘a miserable old person’ and revealed she quit her old job as a receptionist because of constant moaning from her colleagues.
“I worry about my career because I don’t want a boring job,” she said.
DEATH: Mei-Lee Chen said her biggest fear was losing her parents
Media City colleagues, Inés Soria-Donlan, 29, and Lauren Walker, 30, also listed worrying about their careers.
Ms Soria-Donlan said: “I do worry about hurting other people and in the short-term, I’m worried about getting a mortgage.”
“I am worried about progressing within a creative career. It is the uncertainty that causes me to worry.”
Melvyn Newton, 53, an english literature and creative writing student at the University of Salford said: “I worry about the climate and I try to do my bit in my own small ways, like cycling and working at Foodcycle, where we find free food, cook it and give it to people who are at risk of food poverty.”
Michael Keay, 42, who is currently living in temporary accommodation, said: “I am most worried about housing at the moment. I am currently facing homelessness.”
Despite his degree, the 42-year-old revealed he is unable to find work and the council is ‘unable to help’ him.
HOUSING: Michael Keay revealed his biggest worry was facing homelessness
Salford resident, Suzee Amato, 24, who is currently on a work placement at the BBC, said: “I guess I worry about how issues in my childhood affect some of my relationships.
“I find I worry because I don’t want to worry. I think worry is a useless emotion, it’s a waste of energy.”
Louis Brehony, 30, a music student from Withington, said he worries most about people becoming too comfortable with their lives.
“The thing I worry about the most is people thinking they can’t do anything to change the world and getting complacent,” he said.
COMPLACENCY: Louis Brehony said he most worried about people thinking they can’t change the world
Mr Brehony is involved in the Revolutionary Communist Group and is also an active campaigner in the city and said he wants people to ‘look beyond their own borders’.
Retired Middleton man, Alan Iddon, 65 said: “I worry about money really. I’ve just retired and I can see a lot of jobs that need doing. So at the moment everything is outgoings.”
Albert Roure, 36, is a Spaniard living in Rusholme who moved to Manchester two years ago. When asked what worries him he replied, ‘the weather’.
MONEY: Albert Roure said his biggest concern was finance as he has recently retired
“I do worry about zero hours contracts though. I think it is very easy to get a job in the UK but [for zero hours contracts] the conditions they result in are not that good,” he said.
Main image courtesy of Bhernandez, with thanks.
