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Melody12234's avatar

What is it called when your mind creates multiple worse-case scenarios & makes them even worse when afraid?

Asked by Melody12234 (101points) July 9th, 2019 from iPhone

I have a fear of heights. When I get close to a cliff or some sort of drop, my mind starts to wander to countless horrible scenarios… “What if that guy over there tripped and fell off?” “What if I were to stand here and someone pushed me?” Is there a name for something like this? Maybe paranoia of some sort?

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9 Answers

RedDeerGuy1's avatar

Catastrophizing.

RedDeerGuy1 (24945points)“Great Answer” (5points) Flag as…
kritiper's avatar

Extreme general paranoia.

kritiper (25757points)“Great Answer” (2points) Flag as…
jca2's avatar

Anxiety.

jca2 (16826points)“Great Answer” (4points) Flag as…
Hawaii_Jake's avatar

It sounds like anxiety.

Hawaii_Jake (37734points)“Great Answer” (4points) Flag as…
flutherother's avatar

It could tend towards a form of obsessive compulsive disorder.

flutherother (34864points)“Great Answer” (2points) Flag as…
rebbel's avatar

Anxiety.

rebbel (35553points)“Great Answer” (0points) Flag as…
flo's avatar

Ruminating? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumination_(psychology)
“Rumination is the focused attention on the symptoms of one’s distress, and on its possible causes and consequences, as opposed to its solutions,...”

flo (13313points)“Great Answer” (1points) Flag as…
Hawaii_Jake's avatar

Anxiety is part of many mental illnesses, and it can be its own illness. Please see a doctor.

Hawaii_Jake (37734points)“Great Answer” (2points) Flag as…

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