It's easier to have "imaginary" problems that can't come true than to have to face and deal with ones that are actually in our lives?

When my husband would go away on business, I had to stay up all night because I didn't want to be surprised when the rapists, murderers, pillagers and burners showed up :-) I was sure they were lurking outside my house and knew my husband wasn't home and were going to get me.

While it's possible that there were robbers out there waiting until 1:30 a.m. to come in and scare me :-) it was extremely unlikely? But my thinking and feeling were preoccupied with these "imaginary" problems until around 3:30 or 4:00 a.m. I'd feel that it was late enough in the morning for them to have gone home to their own beds and I could turn out the light and go to sleep myself. I often had to take the next day off work, etc. So, what was I NOT thinking about?

My husband had left me. He was away from me and I missed him. Something might happen to him or me while we were apart. My mother died when I was 3 and what would happen to me if something happened to my husband? I'm alone, can I take care of myself? I'm afraid I'm not able to take care of myself. Etcetera and so on.

The last paragraph were very real fears of mine and possibilities! But I didn't want to look at those, deal with my feelings about them? My head, instead (sorry :-) came up with less likely robbers and bad guys to worry about and made them "strong" enough to override the real thoughts and worries.

You doing something like that? What are your "real" fears? :-) Isn't it "easier" to worry about other people and problems that aren't likely in your own life?