Awkward Annie
Well-known member
Does anyone else suffer with this? I have it on a near daily basis. If I'm ringing my family and they aren't answering their phones I get extreme anxiety and began to imagine scenarios in my head. Uusually, worst-case scenarios. Then I imagine what I would do in each case and how my life would change and I generally become sick with anxiety until I find out that they just didn't hear their phone ringing.
It's the same with most things. Especially with things I've never done before. I'm putting off learning to drive because there are too many ways to feel humiliated. Cutting out, making silly mistakes, other drivers staring at you or beeping their horn, the instructor losing his patience or sighing.
When I was in New York we went to Central Park and my partner said "let's hire a rowing boat on the lake". Now, I have no particular fear of water or boats but I immediately began thinking "I can't swim, what if I fall out, what if another boat tips against us, what if it springs a leak, what if the oars break, what if we cannot control the boat and can't get back to shore." These ran through my head but in the end I was told that I had to just do it and not to be silly. I did it and it was great.
Anyone else catastrophise or have the fear of doing new things and need someone to force you into the situation?
It's the same with most things. Especially with things I've never done before. I'm putting off learning to drive because there are too many ways to feel humiliated. Cutting out, making silly mistakes, other drivers staring at you or beeping their horn, the instructor losing his patience or sighing.
When I was in New York we went to Central Park and my partner said "let's hire a rowing boat on the lake". Now, I have no particular fear of water or boats but I immediately began thinking "I can't swim, what if I fall out, what if another boat tips against us, what if it springs a leak, what if the oars break, what if we cannot control the boat and can't get back to shore." These ran through my head but in the end I was told that I had to just do it and not to be silly. I did it and it was great.
Anyone else catastrophise or have the fear of doing new things and need someone to force you into the situation?