I thought I would share this prompt from my CBT guided journal. It really made me stand up and take notice this morning...

....one of the keys to understanding worry is to understand the motivations that you hold for this key mental activity. Examples of such motivations are

- worry helps me be prepared for or to avoid problems
- things are less likely to happen if I worry about them
- if I assume the worst, I'll be relieved if things are okay

~ Day 57, CBT Journal for Dummies

Well I certainly have fallen into this trap. I do so all the time - especially the bit about being ultra vigilant and prepared.

My own addition to this is that worry contributes to my ability to problem solve.

Is it good to have these emotions? I desperately want to say yes but, as the book encourages me to believe, it most definitely isn't. The challenge then is to fight these thoughts. The major thought process I need to undertake is that I need to wait until I come to the bridge before I cross it.

Anyway, I thought I would share this provoking idea.

[*Laurie*]

Thanks, justafriend. Worry is my big bugaboo. I come from a family of worriers and I seem to have inherited the worry gene

[Unrigged64072835]

I've worried for a long time. All kinds of things. Lots of catastrophic thinking, too.

I find that distraction helps, especially at night when I'm trying to sleep. I nudge my brain to some inward fantasy and I fall asleep easier.

[winter4me]

I have tended, especially when young & younger, to do "what if" worst case scenarios....now and then it's even turned out to be helpful...
I wonder if it would be good to do the same with best case scenarios.

[Onward2wards]

Originally Posted by winter4me

I have tended, especially when young & younger, to do "what if" worst case scenarios....now and then it's even turned out to be helpful...
I wonder if it would be good to do the same with best case scenarios.

If you ever figure out a way to ruminate on best case scenarios, just take my money.

Thanks for sharing!

I am a 'worrier' but I think it was how I was raised rather than genes. For sure it's a tough pattern to get out of.