"What if" help!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 5:09 am

I can totally relate to the phone, thing, too. But my advice is do not do it! I have noticed that if I act on my compulsion to check things, I feel EXTREMELY guilty. In my experience, the guilt feels much worse than the anxiety of not looking/checking things. Also, if I don't engage in the compulsion it does eventually go away. (Unfortunately, it's usually quickly replaced by another obsessive thought but I've had a good couple of days). By the way, I'm chuckling at your comment about not feeling like you have cancer this week--can TOTALLY relate to that one, too. OCD is so strange, but I do find it comforting that most of us on this site exhibit very similar characteristics.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:46 am

Totally, and I call the phrase "What if" my Red Flag. I try to stop and say to myself, "Ok, you started with 'what if,' which means that something is not really actually happening. Sounds like a worry."

Totally hear you on this one!

Originally posted by KayJ:
I've posted this on another forum also, but am just wondering if anyone else has this issue. I'm completely obsessing on what ifs such as,

"What if I find out my boyfriend (insert irrational fear here!) and then I can't be with him anymore?" Can anyone relate to this???

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:55 pm

Good point, cadebi! I'll try using that advice

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 7:53 am

omg i hate "what if" thinking but i have had it for as long as i can remember. i always second guess my decisions until i really dont no what i want. it makes me a completely indecisive person...which is really annoying. it's the worst with dating. i always talk myself out of dating some incredible guy right before we start to date. i have a ton of "what if" thoughts running thru my head so i usually just decide dating him isnt worth all the worry.

Gman5256 · Post by **Gman5256** » Mon Dec 03, 2007 9:20 am

Nelly hit it right on the nose. Go back and read what she said. It's as simple as all that. Never, never, never answer a What if question. There never is an answer. Your "ego" can not predict the future. It's a bunch of garbage. "What if" in the positive. Immediately! Change the negative thinking habit. Persevere. It takes practice, but if you practice you will succeed.

camie · Post by **camie** » Mon May 26, 2008 8:42 am

Because I am currently in an "open relationship", and because I suffer from HIV anxiety, I often think:

"what if I get HIV, and give it to my boyfriend?"
or
"what if I get HIV, and my boyfriend leaves me?"

I obsess about this often.