Stress Center Peer Support

I was wondering if anyone out there struggled with irrational scary thoughts? For example, every time that my girlfriend drives back home, I am always afraid that something horrible is going to happen to her on the freeway. This scary thought is not founded on any logic. It is very intrusive. I also have this same thought with other people in my life that I love. I feel like something horrible will occur to them. Can anyone relate?

i became so dependant on my wife the last 2 years of my depression,that those same thoughts occured to me also,oh my god if something would happen,an accident,what would i do.but since the program,i turned worry from losing the ones i love,to enjoying the ones i love.and in return my family is enjoying there time with me more.the whole living in the now concept is been difficult,but im starting to master it.and its working.theres so much to do in the now moment besides worrying,it takes the pressure off.and i enjoy life more.keep posting.

What if my girlfriend gets into an accident on the freeway? -

Is it a fact that she is going to get into an accident or is it just a thought I am having that is scaring me? It is just a thought. Am I jumping to a negative conclusion here? Yes. Is there any other way I can look at this situation? Is there a possibility that she won’t get into an accident? Yes. Perhaps I can focus on the thought of her getting home safely and look forward to seeing and speaking with her tomorrow. Maybe there is something I can do right now to help someone I know or love – this feels good and will keep me focused in the present.

Yep, that's classic obsessive thinking. You have a bad thought, then you put a ton of energy into it because it's upset you so much. Your subconsious learns that the thought is VERY important, so it keeps coming back.

I had terrible thoughts, so bad I isolated myself for a few years. I was afraid to be near anyone. Eventually I got a wonderful book on obsessions. Curing that was surprisingly easy. I just had to understand that many people have this, and that it's our own reactions to the thoughts that keep them coming.

When you have these thoughts, the key is not to get upset (hard, I know), and not to aggressively try to rid yourself of them. When we start panicking about getting rid of them, they get more power. I found it best to very gently accept them, then instead of sitting still and ruminating, I'd go calmly do something else to occupy my time. At first, the thoughts keep coming back, but just remain calm and don't give them any power or importance in your life. You know, rationally, that your thoughts are just that (if you were having a premonition, it would have happened already, the first time you had the thought!).

You can overcome obsessive thinking, and it feels really great when you do.

what book did you read to help with the obsessions