How to stop catastrophising

[Sunflowers765]

I spend so much time worrying what might happen, especially about my DC (teenager and young adult) My anxiety levels are sky high, mostly at night when they're out- I can't sleep until they're in which is sometimes 5am. They have their own life and I know logically they are sensible, and will answer texts and calls and not put themselves in danger. But I'm convinced every time they leave the house it'll be the last time I see them. That can't be normal can it?
My parents are elderly, my DH is not that well. I'm sure that in the next few years I'll lose them all, plus my old dog and my kids. I'll be old and alone. It all just seems so sad. It just feels like everything is over.
But none of these things have happened yet, so it feels completely pathetic to get so upset about stuff that hasn't even happened.
I feel it's too stupid to go snd see someone about it, or ask for antidepressants from gp. So I just keep crying and waiting for the awfulness to start.

It isn't normal and you don't have to feel like this. You sound very poorly. It isn't silly to see a GP, this is exactly what they are for. I really think you would benefit from medication and possibly CBT too. If you can afford private CBT it would be quicker but if not wait for NHS. Speak to your GP tomorrow and start your road to recovery. Good luck x

I was exactly like this and I spoke to my GP and have betablockers now.

They really help.

That's a horrible way to live - waiting for the awfulness to start. What if it doesn't start for another five, ten years or never happens at all?

As Mark Twain said; “I've lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened.”

You don't need antidepressants - you need a bit of therapy to challenge the way you think and to help you be rational and reasonable.

I used to do this (although not to such an extent as you) and then somebody told me to think FEAR and say to myself Future Events Aren't Real.

If you think about it logically then do you think if you worry constantly about winning the lottery then it will come true? No.

So you have to keep telling yourself that Future Events Aren't Real and there is no point in getting worked up about imaginary scenarios that haven't happened. I spent much of the last 18 months stressed to high heaven about my Y10/Y11 child who was doing no work in Covid, was going to fail all their GCSEs, fail to get into 6th form.

Instead they got decent enough grades in every single subject and are now doing A levels. What a bloody waste of 18 months of stress for something that never even happened.

You are making life miserable for yourself instead of enjoying the moment. You have your parents, your DH, your dog and your kids. Enjoy the moment.