This is just my own observation and perspective, but I think that when the brain has been delivering a negative message for a long time (and I have a lifelong array of traumatic experience upon which my hindsight bias can blithely feast, although it is only a few choice recent-ish events that have thrown my CPTSD into an especially difficult spiral), it becomes so adept at doing so that it happens too quickly for the conscious brain to easily discern, let alone prevent. Over the last year I've started experiencing falling into a state of absolute dread literally within seconds of waking up.. it's sort of 1, 2, 3, and there it is. Only very recently have I felt the presence of a glimmer of optimism, albeit precariously teetering cliffside. But the dread is still very much present; and massive. I suppose, with my glimmer of optimism though, I am hoping that I can deconstruct and dismantle it.