Why do I fear that not worrying will lead to negative outcomes?

I’ve had that since childhood. Until last year I did not know it is also ocd. Last year I also realized that I’ve had several ocd themes in my life, and magical thinking was the oldest one. You can do nothing but let your thoughts come and see them losing their power in the long run. Good luck with the therapy, you can do it! 💪🏻

Worry is an illusion to control external outcomes. It's a feeling nothing more or less.

I totally relate to this. I would venture to say the reasons why this becomes a theme with OCD can vary depending on the person experiencing it. I’m still not exactly sure why this is such a big thing for me. in my case, I do think it has a little bit to do with past trauma. It’s a defense mechanism; I want to make sure I see everything that’s coming. Also, I’ve come to begin to realize that for me worrying is in a sense a way I seek reassurance. I especially do this by working those worries into conversations with others. I don’t necessarily need them to tell me it’s not true. It’s more that I need to make sure it’s stated; bringing them up is a compulsion. Ultimately, the reason why is not the issue. it’s more about learning how to deal with addressing it. It helps me to remind myself of some of the following: -Just thinking something does not make it true. - The more one gives in to the compulsions, the more they are going to increase; it becomes a loop. -Intrusive thoughts usually focus on only one perspective, and it is usually the worst case scenario. Also, are you in therapy for your OCD? I am in ERP (Exposure and response prevention)Therapy. Research shows ERP therapy works very well for OCD. ERP is about purposefully experiencing your fear, in order to learn that you can handle negative emotions and anxiety without engaging in compulsions. It has been very helpful for me. If you are not currently in therapy, please consider reaching out to the NOCD care team for a free consultation. Recovery is possible. Be kind and patient with yourself.

I do this. I think for me it’s a coping mechanism and a compulsion. I worry that if I don’t worry then I would not be prepared for a potentially bad result. Honestly, I have no idea what could happen and it’s not worth my time trying to ruminate over every possible outcome. I know it’s hard, but OCD tends to focus on unrealistic bad case scenarios. Looking back none of these bad case scenarios actually materialized. I wasted my time and energy stressing myself out on something that never happened. I like a saying I heard once: worrying about a potential future bad event is putting yourself through that situation. So if it happens you have been through it twice already, if it doesn’t happen you put yourself through the situation once. You’ll feel the pain worrying about it no matter what so it would be beneficial to cross that bridge when/ if you get there if that makes sense?

If I worry about something specific it means it’s going to happen. If I don’t worry about something specific…. It means it’s going to happen 🤷‍♀️ this is the way my brain works and it feels like I can never catch a break 😅 i think it stems from trauma and trying to constantly “be prepared”. I have my first appointment today.

I think we worry because it helps us feel like we are in control of the situation, when we are not. For example I was on a plane and was doing anxiety compulsions and I stopped and realized I was trying to make the plane not crash by worrying…that’s not my job, that’s the pilots, I just had to sit and wait and be a passenger:)

I’ve really been struggling with this and appreciate all sentiments that people have commented. I feel like the more my medication kicks in and the therapy it makes me worry if I’m not worrying about my themes as much then is it more likely to happen and do I really not care? It’s such a cycle it sucks. I miss my old life when this wasn’t a thing honestly.