When Anxiety Keeps Looking For What Could Go Wrong

Have you ever wondered why your mind keeps looking for what could go wrong?

You may be tired of the constant thoughts, the worrying, the overthinking, or feeling like you always have to stay one step ahead. Even when things are going well, there may still be a part of you that feels like you need to be prepared.

Your brain has spent your whole life learning from what you have experienced. It remembers the moments that felt stressful, painful, or unsafe, and it tries to help protect you.

We can see this same kind of protection in the Animal Kingdom. A mother tiger is always ready to protect her cubs. A mother deer is highly attuned to changes around her. Animals pay attention because staying safe means the difference between life and death.

Humans have that same protective system. When your brain has learned that being alert helps you stay safe, it can continue looking for possible problems even when you are longing to relax. The worry, fear, and racing thoughts are often an overreaction. They are taking it too far in trying to protect you.

When we understand where those patterns came from, we can begin to let them go, and replace them with peace and appropriate awareness.