Stress Center Peer Support

I am having problems differntiating the subtle differences between these two. Can anyone help me?

WW

My personal interpretation and others may disagree.

I would consider the "what if" thinking a form of beating oneself up. I used to feel very self conscious especially in group or public settings. Unfortuantely I had a lot of bad dates prior to meeting my wife. I even took this thinking to an extreme that "what if" this embarrasing moment wouldn't have happened then I would have had a second date, etc.

The worrying is just catastrophizing and overall negative thinking but not necessarily directed at oneself.

obsessive thoughts, negative thinking, worrying and "what if" thinking. Some thoughts are passive and some are active. By this I mean are you sitting there worring about them, or are you on your way to someplace?
When I sit and think I used to worry about my daughter, my students, my marriage, my sanity.
When I am going somewhere, I think what if... I drive off the rode, no one likes me, I get too hot and take all my clothes off, haha. Yes, I used to think that.
If you really listen to yourself and your thoughts you'll hear the "what if."