It would be horrible if my parents died.
What if this time I really do lose control the car?
I worry that I worry this much.
These statements are common cognitions for those who suffer from an anxiety disorder. Individuals will spend time agonizing over catastrophic outcomes of events: imagining how life would be without parents, or the results of smashing one’s car into another. The outcome of focusing on the horrific conclusions causes more anxiety, strife and a desire to avoid the potential situations that might lead to them.
What is needed is not a plan to avoid these outcomes, but rather an examination of the approach to thinking about these outcomes:
While I don’t want my parents to die, how often do other people deal with the death of their parents, and what happens to them?
How many times have I really lost control of my car, as opposed to feeling like I did?
The cognitions “I worry that I worry this much” is often a benchmark statement from those have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and points to the root of the issue: the issue isn’t the issue, it’s my way of thinking about the issue that needs to be addressed.
What is needed is a systemized approach to examine one’s thinking patterns, and to learn how to identify, assess and let go over anxious thoughts. The good news is that there is such a system and we can resolve these fearful thinking approaches through cognitive behavioral therapy.