Anyone else experienced pregnancy paranoia?

[DiamondGirl]

I am recently married, planning on having kids over the next couple of years, and though DiamondBoy and I aren't TRYING to get pregnant, we would manage just fine if I were.

Why, then, am I SUPER PARANOID about being pregnant? Paranoid to the point that I have 1) taken multiple pregnancy tests in the past couple of months, 2) feel pre-emptively guilty if I smoke or drink because ?what if I'm hurting the baby?", 3) feel that the universe is giving me signs that I'm pregnant by way of the dozens (not exaggerating) of conversations friends, neighbors, co-workers and others seem to want to have to me about kids every week.

On one hand, I know that it's somewhat logical for everyone to be asking me when we're having kids. I think it's hideous, but not surprising that since we just got married society naturally assumes we should start reproducing immediately (rolls eyes). Still, I am kind of freaking out. It seems like a LOT of people around me are having babies, talking about babies, etc.

Does anybody have experience with this? Advice on how to be easier on myself (and, consequently, on my pocketbook, as pregnancy tests aren't cheap) would be appreciated

[hopehound]

I feel like your paranoia about being pregnant is an example of obsessive thinking and has to be dealt with the same as if it was something else. In other words, my obsessive thought was dying of ALS/MS, and no matter how much information I got to the contrary, it continued to be my obsessive thought. If it wasn't that, it would be something else, you know? In other words, you may eventually convince yourself you're not pregnant, or be pregnant even, and then it's on to something else: your health, the baby's health, pregnancy complications...Deal with the obsessiveness. Do the program. Recognize you have a propensity to be OCD and stay vigilant about stopping the thoughts in their tracks. Change the things in your life that are triggering your anxiety. If there was a magic cure for this, I would give it to you, but then why would I be here? This is a problem that is pervasive but solvable and definitely worth the effort so think big!