I can't stop thinking about what might happen. I worry about my job security, my health, and the state of the world. These 'what if' scenarios are consuming my thoughts and making it hard to be present.

It's hard to pinpoint an exact date, but I'd say it's been significantly impacting me for the last six months to a year. Before that, I might have had worries, but they felt more manageable and less all-consuming. This recent period has felt like a steady increase in the intensity and frequency of these 'what if' thoughts, making it genuinely difficult to enjoy the present or feel a sense of peace.

There are definitely triggers. For my job security, it's often news about company layoffs or economic downturns. For my health, it's usually when I experience a minor ache or pain, which my mind immediately jumps to the worst possible diagnosis. The state of the world is a bit more general, but major global events or even just scrolling through news headlines can set me off. Sometimes, even just having a quiet moment to myself can be a trigger, as my mind fills the silence with worries.

It feels like almost constantly. Even when I'm trying to focus on something else, a stray thought will pop into my head, and then I'm off to the races with a whole cascade of 'what ifs.' It's like a background hum of anxiety that's always there, and it can easily escalate into full-blown rumination if I let it.

Absolutely. Sleep is the biggest one. I've been having trouble falling asleep because my mind races with all these potential negative outcomes. I'll wake up in the middle of the night with my heart pounding, replaying worst-case scenarios. I've also noticed some digestive upset – a general feeling of unease in my stomach, sometimes even nausea, especially when the worries are particularly strong.

Yes, I have. It's not a new feeling for me, but it feels more intense and persistent lately. In the past, I've had periods of anxiety, especially around major life changes like starting a new job or during stressful times. However, this current level of constant 'what if' thinking feels different, more pervasive.