What If?

[imnotcalmyet]

Hi I'm new here but definitely not to anxiety. I've been really struggling the past few weeks with catastrophizing and what if thinking that I just can't seem to get a handle on. This is going to be a long one.

I had a big meeting that ended up being postponed the same day, after a week of being worried about it. Then while my anxiety was already heightened, my cat started sneezing.

Brought her to the vet and they said suspected upper respiratory infection, she got a shot of antibiotics that lasts 14 days and some supplements. Bloodwork was clear.

She's more herself but still sneezing. Every time she sneezes, adrenaline courses through my body. Vet doesn't seem super concerned, said our next step would be an xray (yay more money). But I'm a nervous wreck. I have the what ifs something fierce, I'm not sleeping through the night..my brain just won't stop.

[Agora1]

What If?? Two words that can take us over the edge as well as keep us in a state of

anticipation. Most of the time, it all works out in the end and we've wasted the moments

in life making us miserable. The mind of an anxious person is always open in looking for

drama, unintentionally of course. Anxiety takes this as an opportunity to sneak on in

and continue the fears by what we think and say to ourselves. That's where the words

"what if" come into play.

BY keeping our thoughts more positive that we can and will take care of anything if

and when it does happen, it will lessen our anxiety and our state of mind.

Welcome to this safe site that you can lean on when feeling stressed. We're here

to support each other because we care. xx

[fauxartist in reply to Agora1]

Great point Agora.....What ifs are all hypotheticals.... just air....and can just as easily be blown away with a big deep breath in and slow exhale out. I've worried myself sick in the past when I was running a business, trying to be on top of every possible case scenario of how a job might go....it was exhausting. Finally....I would just put what I needed for the job materially in place....and know from years of experience....that what ever happens....happens....and I've never not been able to figure something out...so I stopped wasting time worrying about nothing that probably won't happen. You do the best you can do, and that's good enough...deal with stuff as it happens and comes up....not what if's.

[Agora1 in reply to fauxartist]

Hi faux, I like your thoughts on the what if's.. Too bad it takes us time to figure

this out. But with life there are experiences and with experiences we learn. xx

[fauxartist in reply to Agora1]

Thanks Agora....and yeah....I learned the hard way with constant heartburn either from stress or too much coffee with what if's.... and now it's just not worth the effort. My life has changed so much with Long Covid, and the loss of my health and mobility, has been the biggest change for me as I was always very active....but we adapt don't we.... we have to....at 71 I'm still learning cool stuff, still doing what makes me happyisher, and am grateful I have someone who takes very good care of me.....no more regrets, guilt, remorse, shame, blame, or resentments, And when a few crop up....I'm still learning to just blow out that neg. stuff, the same way it blew in from.. I just don't have time for them....no more what if's, could haves, should haves.... I lived a full life, and my memories of all the good stuff now over take the majority of the negative.... sure... I deal with my stuff as it comes, it's part of me, who I am...I still get triggered.... but now I'm safe, knowing it too shall pass.

[Rufus07]

Welcome! We are glad to have you here with us!

[Rufus07]

I hope your cat gets well soon. It’s always scary when our fur babies get sick.

[fauxartist]

Your doing what you can and did what you needed to do for kitty....now just love and keep them warm....cuddles and nurturing.....and in turn....it's healing for you as well....

[PrettyLobster]

I had similar ways of thinking and when I expressed the worrying, what if and catastrophic thinking to a friend once, he simply answered: "Oh, so all your worries are in the future and imaginary?" In no way I want to diminish what you are going trough, but I wanted to share what has helped me. It helped me asking questions like: "Is that horrible meeting now?" the answers is "No", so I can relax now. Or in your case that could be: "My cat is sneezing, but is she in danger now?" And every time the answer is "No", you can try to relax.