Imagining future tragedy about people I love and care for, it feels real

[AmIBlue]

Hi, forum, My first post and maybe like others I have left this too long, perhaps looking to avoid what next...

I have these thoughts which keep me from being happy and cause much pain in my life. You know the saying ' is this is good as it gets' so I wanted to reach out to get feedback and perspective.

sometimes, I think of random thoughts as we all do - about people I love and care for, they are micro thoughts and start off ok but end up in some sort of tragedy (quite bad) along with this comes all the emotions associated with experiencing this if they were real, guilt of not stopping it, sense of loss and failure, remorse and other feelings after the fact knowing this is all in my mind.....its draining and affects me and my moods.

Whilst it is not all the time it does occur more often than I care for - I am I alone here - any colour on this would help me ground at least

[blondguy]

Hi AmIBlue

Welcome and great to have you with us on the forums!

You are not alone at all as the bulk of the members on the forums also have these random thoughts that just pop in when we dont want them to...me included

There are so many helpful/supportive posts/threads on the forums that can bring you some peace of mind AmIBlue...I have had anxiety followed by depression (under management with a great GP)

You remind me of the way I used to think.....and yes it is a pain....yet can be overcome AmIBlue 🙂

Just so we can help support you more effectively .....can I ask if you have a GP that you are comfortable talking to? Making a double appointment can bring some really good peace of mind too!

In the meantime there are many super gentle members on the forums that can be here for you too.....

Just a note for your info.....The forums are a safe and non judgemental place for you to post AmIBlue 🙂

please be gentle to yourself....you are amazing for having the courage to post...Great post too!

any questions are more than welcome....your privacy and well being is paramount to Beyond Blue

my kind thoughts

Paul

[JessF]

Hello AmIBlue, let me know if I've understood you right... these thoughts you're having are not things that have actually happened, but scenarios you imagine happening, and then you're reacting in your mind as if they are real? And while part of you knows it is not real, you're still caught up in the emotions as if these things had actually happened?

[AmIBlue]

yes, that is a reasonably accurate assessment. The emotions are real for sure but not prolonged.

[JessF]

Hello AmIBlue, have you tried 'interrupting' your thought chain the next time it comes up? For example, if there's a particular person that comes to mind, and a particularly upsetting scenario, can you 'rewrite' it with a more pleasant one? You can have these 'rewritten' scenarios ready, perhaps even actually written down somewhere, and when the upsetting thought comes to mind, you switch over to your more pleasant story. Even better if you can imagine a pleasant scenario or happy memory that has actually happened in the past. If you close your eyes and imagine the pleasant story, and feel the emotion that results, it will help you to see that you actually have some control over how you feel. What do you think?