How using numbers instead of vague reassurances transforms your confidence and calm

You’ve had sleepless nights, staring at the same web page, endlessly scrolling for reassurance about miscarriage rates. Your doctor says, 'Most women are fine,' and your mother-in-law chimes in, 'Women have been having babies for centuries.' But none of this stops you from worrying—vague reassurances don’t quiet that little voice in your head.

Finally, you decide you need numbers, not platitudes. You dig up a chart showing risk by week—at 6 weeks, it’s 11%; by 10 weeks, it’s under 3%. Seeing the numbers drop, you unclench for the first time in days. Suddenly, you aren’t haunted by what-ifs, and you can savor small joys, like the crispness of a new calendar page, without a knot in your stomach.

Turning a 'feeling' into an actual measure gives you a solid handle on your worries. Behavioral science supports this: specific, concrete feedback reduces anxiety, turning uncertainty into something you can plan for and accept. Numbers don’t guarantee outcomes, but they give you a foundation for confidence.

Instead of letting vague reassurances keep you up at night, ask for the number behind the risk you’re worried about—be it from a credible study, a graph, or your healthcare team. Compare what you find to something you already understand, like the chance of rain or your everyday commute, to put it in perspective. Once you see the number, let it give you a firmer sense of control and permission to stop catastrophizing. Next time anxiety creeps in, reach for the data; notice how much more at ease you are.