to all of you who responded, i really appreciate your input and experiences; i've been in and out of counseling and have been under psych. care for years since diagnosis almost 40 yrs. ago, and i really do have a wonderful support system of family (not all of them) and friendships; also got some wonderful input from qualified drs. and nurses so i felt i was using whatever resources i could find after 1st mammo and then yesterday's redo mammo plus ultrasound; i'm totally exhausted from the emotional trauma leading up to yesterday, and then it's aftermath, but now that things have quieted down, i begin to think logically and rationally and that even those who do not have a mental illness would probably have some sort of similar emotional fear of the unknown...and then handling the diagnosis. yes, i immediately go into negative, worse case scenario mindset and i tried to use the coping skills that several friends suggested...i guess bottom line is: i am who i am; i am wired differently yet i am very similar to others who might have to cope with any similar or different situation which causes fear, alarm, anxiety, angst and all those negatives which get triggered...and prob. when something else arises, some new or old health concern which is inevitable at age 73, i probably will then overwhelm and overthink! yes, i'm human and have emotions just like anyone else, except all of mine are so damn intense!!! again, thanks for your replies.