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Making up problems

Expecto_Patronum

I'm not this is an autism thing, possibly more of an anxiety thing but I'm aware many people here also share this difficulty. I am terrible for making up something to be worried about and then it locking in as a problem and not being able to stop worrying about it.

Today someone in work made a suggestion they thought would be helpful. I said no but didn't explain why. The person didn't push it and that was the end of the conversation. But I've now completely convinced myself because I didn't give an explanation that tomorrow this suggestion will be forced upon me.

I'm aware this is ridiculous and a waste of energy and am making myself feel for rubbish for no good reason. I've tried so many things to stop my brain spiralling in these situations. I try to distract myself, I try to rationalise, I try to show myself there's more evidence against this thought, I've tried writing it down. I really don't know what else I could to stop these endless spirals. As if I don't already worry about enough of life without adding made up worries to the mix!

Does anyone else struggle with this? Has anyone ever found a strategy that actually works to stop it?

Parents

  • In the words of Madness (or was it Bad Manners) = "One step beyond!"

    For a good-wee-while, I think I actually created problems.......just so I had something to solve/think about!?

    "Next-level" [edited by mod] up mate.

  • in reply to Number

    seriously tho' I agree with your analysis  

    It is perhaps rationalised from consideration that when one is vulnerable a lot of effort is expended trying to prevent future harm by predicting what might go wrong..

    Unfortunately this can become a self-fulfilling prophecy as one's behaviour can bias towards the likelihood of it occurring. 

    Furthermore there is a balance between worrying what will happen and actually being open to experiencing what actually is happening and what might be less traumatic future outcomes 

    This seems to be wrapped up with the need for predictability and problems with change that i personally experience in my own aspect of autism.

    maybe one day things will be OK :-)

  • in reply to Phased

    Yes I definitely think it is this. My brain is trying to protect me but it's doing a terrible job.

Reply Children
  • in reply to Expecto_Patronum
    Expecto_Patronum said:
    My brain is trying to protect me but it's doing a terrible job

    There is in my experience a problem that is kind of summed up by imagining what one might do if someone said to you "don't look at my nose".

    I would contend that the first instinct is to look at their nose to find out why one should not! doh!!!

    So then one may find oneself having to work mentally really hard to suppress the desire to so do...

    This is why distracting oneself may be helpful until the drive for the unhelpful thoughts is diminished such that they may then be seen as somewhat less important and then may be allowed to pass into different states in my experience.