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Calm1New Contributor
I always assume something really bad is going to happen- at work, when I have a performance appraisal, when my parents call I worry a relative has died. I really wish I could handle this life with a calmer tact; I want this desperately. Please help me
In response to: Assuming catastrophically consequences
SnowieSenior Contributor
Hi @Calm1
Welcome to the Sane forums, it is nice to meet you.
It is hard when we expect the worst to happen all the time. I find for me it can increase my anxiety and stress quite a lot also.
I find journalling very helpful thing for me. I write all those negative thoughts onto paper. It is a way of releasing them and getting them out of my head. I have been known to burn the paper or scrunch it up and throw those thoughts away. It helps clear my head.
Perhaps a @moderator might be able to give you more suggestions.
Will also tag some other members that might have some more suggestions.
@Shaz51 @outlander @NatureLover @Faith-and-Hope @Captain24 @TAB @Former-Member @MDT and anyone else around.
I hope to see you around the forums
Snowie
In response to: Assuming catastrophically consequences
TABSenior Contributor
Hi @Calm1 tell your GP that is a good place to start
In response to: Assuming catastrophically consequences
Captain24Senior Contributor
Hi @Calm1
Welcome to the forums.
I think there is a few that can understand where you are coming from.
I am one of them. I always assume the worst. I think it’s related to my anxiety disorder. When my mum rings at unusual times for her I actually answer the phone with ‘what’ with a serious tone. I always think something is wrong.
Have you spoken to a GP about it? Do you have any supports that you can talk too to help you understand and calm your thoughts?
For me my mental health team and medication are slowly helping me to not catastrophise so severely.
In response to: Assuming catastrophically consequences
hanamiSenior Contributor
Hi @Calm1
I relate. I used to be shocking at catastrophising. I still do but these strategies here help me a lot.
I hope you find something helpful in that article. I also believe it's a lot more common that you might realise. When I've opened up about it, I often hear people agreeing that they do it too.
Warmest wishes
Hanami
In response to: Re: Assuming catastrophically consequences
NatureLoverSenior Contributor
@hanami That's a great article! I've bookmarked it - thanks!
In response to: Assuming catastrophically consequences
nervouswreckSenior Contributor
Hi @Calm1 I do the same.
There was a study done by Penn State university that found the overwhelming majority of worries did not come true at all (91% or higher, depending on whose summary you read) and that of those situations that did have an adverse outcome, most of the time it wasn’t as bad as the worry predicted. The popular figure thrown around is that 97% of the time it will turn out better than expected. So overwhelmingly, your brain is wrong when it worries!
The problem is that when you worry, and it turns out OK, that’s a false positive reinforcement (“I worried, and it turned out OK, therefore I should worry again next time”). Think back at all of the times you worried about something and ask yourself how many of those turned out to be complete disasters. I’m still at zero!
In response to: Re: Assuming catastrophically consequences
hanamiSenior Contributor
I love it too @NatureLover . Glad you liked it! I still have trouble with catastrophising but this does help a lot.
x
In response to: Re: Assuming catastrophically consequences
Faith-and-HopeSenior Contributor
Hi @Calm1 and welcome to the forums 👋
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Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
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