Discussion » Statements » Rosie's Corner » An unfortunate thing happens once. You think it could happen again and again and again. Is that a rational or irrational fear?
RosieG

An unfortunate thing happens once. You think it could happen again and again and again. Is that a rational or irrational fear?

I have one.

April 27 Jim came home in the midst of a stroke. He is doing quite well BUT every time he goes out I worry until he comes home. Will he have another stroke? It's getting me down and wearing me out and I can't tell him that. He will think I'm nuts. Am I?

Posted - October 8, 2019
Tags : None

Responses


  • 7280
    Rational insofar as in "If it happened once, then I now know it is possible; and if I know that it is possible, then it remains possible in the present and the future."

    But emotional insofar as "It could happen again, so it might happen again and that scares me a lot."

    You're catastrophizing.

    Catastrophizing is a way of thinking called a 'cognitive distortion.'

    Here's a link to How to stop catastrophizing:  https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320844.php 

    But I think you could share your fear with Jim, and that might help both of you.
      October 8, 2019 9:35 AM MDT
    1

  • 113301
    Thank you for your thoughtful and helpful reply tom and for the link. I just returned from it. There is a lot to process there. It is going to take some time. Once upon a time long ago a previous husband and I went to a marriage counselor. We were having some problems. The shocking thing was that she was a lot more screwed up than we were! So we endured 3 sessions and never went back again. Sometimes you luck out and sometimes you strike out! Happy Tuesday m'dear! :) This post was edited by RosieG at October 8, 2019 3:29 PM MDT
      October 8, 2019 12:38 PM MDT
    1