This speaks- it tumbles into a worst point where just knocking myself on a door frame will send me into a self loathing state :(

There is a german saying "aus einer Mücke, ein Elephanten machen" (turning a moskito into an elephant).

It's used to describe how some people turn every little misfortune into the greatest problem.

Anyway, there goes my favorite glass of the week... again... time to buy plastic cup.

Had this happen to me the other day. Something as simple as taking the train to a con at a town I know, something I have done dozens of times before. The difference this time was that I would be bringing my fursuit with me, which caused my brain to start spiralling into multiple "What if?" questions, all because I'm travelling from somewhere new, and one thing was slightly different.
This led me to suffer from insomnia that night... and the con isn't for another week, meaning I was worrying way ahead of time

Can relate.

Some simple checkup appointment that lasts about 15 minutes?
Better needlessly think about it for hours and get a sleepless night before that day.

I relate to this on such a primal level.

every time at work i dread opening the emails

The worry and anticipation of what we imagine might go wrong in the worst way is what hits us like a hammer; it's the opposite, perhaps negative effect of having a strong, imaginative cognition and free roaming to our thoughts when something stressful comes up: we can embrace and met beterror by the Worst Case Scenario because it's all but instinctive, hiijacking our natural survival mechanisms.

And there's no way to fight it off bruteforce; it's like telling one's self not to think of a polar bear and we think of one; if the demand of self becomes more personal or close to the bone emotionally or cognitively, we can literally feel out mental process and biases railing again the march. Like the defocusing techniques I've taught myself to cope when I'm out and about because of my sensory-processing troubles, you have to trick yourself and take advantage of the delay-line's breadth you're then allowed to hiijack it back instead.

-2Paw.

True, so very true. *Hug*

There is a name for this in cognitive behavioral therapy: Catastrophizing.
Little things turn into big things. Worries turn into worst-case scenarios.

And I know because I did it, and still do so to a lesser degree now.
Meditation and self-reflection have helped me calm down that scared part of my mind that is always wanting to make things worse than they already are, or could be. It has taught me to stop, take a breath, and ask myself "Is this what is actually happening?" and assess what is going on. And even if it truly is that bad, I can acknowledge it and say "It is what it is, and I am okay with that."

I am glad you've shown visually how catastrophizing works, Ookami, and I hope for those who suffer from it you can learn ways to address it.

I can give nothing to you but the words I have in me.. with them I can try to help, for however much it is worth, but to me, it's worth enough that your hurting is lessened with what words and thoughts I freely give to you.
In all things.. you and I .. all of us.. are in a way terrible... those feelings we beat ourselves up with and how we berate ourselves and try to make us less then what we are by the feelings of guilt ( whether real or otherwise.. it doesn't matter... )

It's not who we are inside. All the bad things we think we are.. all of it.. down to the most horribly rotten bit...

It's only a small fraction of what we truly are inside our hearts.. and inside our souls. That's what makes us so much more then the sum of our parts.. be it body, or be it mind..

I've seen sides of you by how you draw and bring to life sadness.. crying hurt... but more so, joy and happiness and even when you have troubles, you TRY to show others that it's not as bad as it might seem to be... no. Far from it. And in doing that.. you show how strong you are inside. And more so, how much WE, the ones who try to give our support... how much MORE stronger we want you to become.
So that your heart can heal and your soul can live.

I don't like seeing you cry.. it hurts me even where I am from where you are.. but I can only give what I have to give.. and to me it seems like so little.. that's why I hope that even tho it's small.. it will help you from one step to the next. I don't want you to hurt.. I want you to please smile and try to get through the bad things.. because when you do, the good things are all the more beautiful and warm and they will embrace you and make your past pain go away..

That's what life can do for you.. and for those like me that just want you to have a better life and feel better INSIDE.. where those feelings and support and hope matter THE MOST.
Let the sun dry your tears little one, please.

Let other hearts hurt for you that can hurt and be strong through it because that strength I offer to you with no asking of anything in return.. but that you please try to dry your eyes and go on with that beautiful thing you have in you, called love and life.

I feel this all too much

Catastrophizing is an evil thing. I hate it when I get it after perceiving a small incident or mistake as the end of something (friendship, connection, etc).

Talking it out and rationalizing/questioning your emotions (but still letting yourself feel them) tends to help pull you out of the whirlpool of catastrophizing. It just takes awhile speaking from experience.

Hit the bullseye on this one *sighs*

I can totally relate !

I feel this so hard. Mix in PTSD and it's not about the spilled milk, it's about everything the spilled milk reminds you of, too. *Offers internet support and cookies*