Catastrophizing

[HappyBirthdayMrPresident]

I suffer with my anxiety really badly since becoming peri menopausal and on HRT and the part I struggle with the most is my ability to cope with life's problems, I basically blow it out of all proportions and imagine the worst case scenario 😥 do you suffer from this and if so what's your coping strategy?thanks

Yes, the strategy is to think it through to its worst, and then realising you could cope with that. So "I can't drive there, I'll get lost!" becomes "and then I'd pull over and use the map on my phone to get there, and arrive late". Or "this storm might uproot a tree that smashes though my roof" becomes "and then I will fix it".

Oh please know you’re not alone!

I was fortunate enough to have a fabulous therapist to help me you this same thing. She would actually talk me through what is the worst thing I thought that could happen (with whatever situation I was worried about) and work through these thoughts. Plus self soothing with meditation, deep breathing.

I found just repeating and repeating 'worry won't help' can actually help with invasive, catastrophising thoughts, but you do have to do it a lot. You have my sympathies - we have a big life celebration, involving lots of preparation and delayed from last year coming up in just under a fortnight and I'm driving myself mad with worry that we'll have to cancel because someone gets ill or other reason the family will have to isolate.

Ask yourself
What's the worst that could happen? (Car breaks down on long journey)
What's the best that could happen? (Meet George clooney at a petrol station en route)
What's the most likely outcome? (It will be a boring drive but I will get there fine)

No idea why but it helps!

I’m here for the tips, I can’t offer support as the last few months I’ve been suffering hugely with it. I get over one hurdle with no worst case scenario so my brain finds something else. It’s just exhausting.

I hope this thread helps op and some good advice is offered.

I can see some good advice here. I can't get a handle on my worries this week and I'm exhausted.