WHAT IF Thinking

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2005
WHAT IF Thinking
11
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 7:24pm

My worst anxiety is around "what if" thinking...what if I lose my job, what if I'm sick, what if my son were sick, what if we crash driving in that snow storm, what if I take this route instead of another - I get in to a car crash...YOU get the picture! Sometimes I think the future drives my current live because I can never really live in the moment. The whole "take it one day at a time" thing seems to completely escape me!

Right now there is some things going on at my job and I am completely worried about losing my job. My therapist says - what is the worst thing that can happen? I lose my job. I don't die. It is not the end of the world. At that moment talking to her, that all seems fine. But when I wake up with mega anxiety....it don't feel so fine :)!!! My morning anxiety has been horrible lately and I wake up with a bang. It carries throughout the day to various degrees. I do have XANAX and ATIVAN at hand when needed - but am worried about depending on them too much. I am trying to avoid daily meds as I am hoping to get pregnant next year.

Just wondering if anyone uses any methods to deal with these situations.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 8:02pm

"Right now there is some things going on at my job and I am completely worried about losing my job."

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Fri, 12-30-2005 - 8:48pm

Here's an

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2003
Sat, 12-31-2005 - 11:27am

I'm a huge 'what if' thinker myself. Mine is more health based. "what if I'm having heart failure?" "What if I have a blood clot somewhere and I'll have a stroke?" "What if I have cancer?" I've even gone so far to wonder "what if I have full blown AIDS?" When I've been tested in the past and am happily married and monogomous (Not sure how to spell that.) I always worry that I've slipped through the cracks and doctors have missed something significant.

It is hard to stop that form of thinking. The only way I know might work is psychotherapy. That is what I'm trying now and it's slowly beginning to work. I haven't been to the ER in three weeks now so that's a good sign. So my suggestion is to try that. And maybe see about getting on an SSRI or something to help get you through until you decide to get pregnant. Sometimes all you need is a few months on a low dose to get things right. Definitely be careful of the Xanax and Ativan though. They are addictive and you can't use them while pregnant.

Jennifer

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evi

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2005
Sun, 01-01-2006 - 2:31pm
Hi Girls, boy this is totally me. I am a great WHAT IF thinker. I sometimes will take my xanax in the morning, especially if I go to work, because I don't want to worry about what if I have stress and start not feeling good. I am on .25 dosage and sometimes I only take 1/2 a pill and that seems to help. Does anyone else get the tingly feeling in their hands and feet. It's really weird. Thanks so much for this board, it helps to know we aren't alone. I also get pains in the chest and my neck muscles tense up and my back aches. It's all so much fun isn't it. We will all get thru this, but I just want to be back to the way I was before anxiety issues. Happy New Year to everyone, it's going to be a better year for all of us. JanW
Jan
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Sun, 01-01-2006 - 4:29pm
what if----------- oh yea!!!
How about this everytime you find yourself doing this
give yourself a little pinch!! NOT HARD MIND YOU but just
so you notice!!
Also I have tingly hands and feet and sometimes feel my legs
are going to give out!!! ALL SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY!
NOPE it is not FUN nothing about it is--------- except
maybe coming here to share our thoughts and worries!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I write down everything I am worried about
then will not think about it until worry time which is 15 min
after I eat dinner------- that is it otherwise I get a pinch!!!
BY the way last week I was black and blue all over!!! HEE HEE
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Sun, 01-01-2006 - 5:09pm

hehehe, I love this idea Judy.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2003
Sun, 01-01-2006 - 5:42pm

Well I would be black and blue too!

Jennifer

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evi

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2005
Mon, 01-02-2006 - 10:03am
Hey you, thanks for the giggle. I think I will try the pinch method. Good IDEA. Happy new Year to you too, and thanks so much for the support. What would we do without this message board. It's amazing..... It's just nice to vent and not have people think you are crazy. Jan
Jan
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2005
Mon, 01-02-2006 - 4:10pm

OMGOODINESS,
I get bruises just looking at myself, LOL My DR.put me on caluim,maganasium and zinc, he said that would help with my legs and hands and your immume system,I know at my age I can do with all the calium I can get LOL!!!

Lynn

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-18-2005
Tue, 01-03-2006 - 9:45am
Lynn, ditto on that for sure, you mentioned your age, but I betcha you aren't as old as me. I'm 63, and I need all the help I can get too LOL. Thanks so much for the laugh. I love to laugh, I got that from my Mom. She always loved to find the humor in everything. I'm still giggling. JanW
Jan

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