Anticipatory Anxiety and Catastrophizing

Last friday I went to the dentist for a root canal and a crown. Normally I would have been a nervous wreck. But I was much more of a nervous wreck a month before, when I went in to have my teeth examined. Anxiety through the roof! I'm surprised to realize now that I had more anxiety at the exam because I was afraid to find out terrible news like maybe I had 14 cavities or somesuch catastrophe. It turned out to be only one cavity. I made the appointment for the crown and root canal, and was much much calmer for those.

My anxiety level was much worse when facing the unknown, and the potential catastrophe of finding tons of cavities. The root canal and the crown, though, I was much more relaxed because at least it was a known rather than unknown. Imagine that, more afraid of an exam than a root canal. Ugh.

Lesson learned: My anxiety is at its worst when I'm facing the unknown, and I easily imagine the worst possible outcome.

Has anyone else had similar experiences?

Oh yes I do the same thing...I have just been through the one after the other medical problem and my nerves were shot. I think the worst and then my mind starts unraveling every bad sceinaro possible. The worst is being told 60% chance I have something and then to find out that wasn't the case.

I have to be careful because my anxiety will create more physical symptoms or flare up other existing issues...ie: bladder or stomach...then I can worry about that...lol. never ending viscious cycle.

Love that you posted it. I realized in this past year that I learned to catastrophize from my mother. I have moved back to my hometown so I see her every day and realize how she is always waiting for the very worse scenario to happen. She is not a negative person either. She is just frightened all the time. She always had to protect me from dad (long story) and then get in between us so he wouldn't kill me when I hit my teens and started rebelling. My brother and sister-in-law have also moved back to town and despite being happy about both of her kids moving home she now knows more about our lives, our children and grandchildrens' lives and worries, festers, and assumes the worse is going to happen almost no matter what comes. I learned this from her. It is a pattern I now realize started from the time I could talk and understand most of what was said to and about me between my parents (about 4 years old.) Children learn what they see and hear more than what they are taught. I do not blame my mother for this. Her fears were sometimes grounded. However, just like jaydyn I always assume something catastrophic will happen when I face something new. I can't begin to count how many doctors and dentists appointments I have been no call no show to jaydyn! I even was "fired" by one psych NP because I missed so many appointments I have Panic Disorder and I am absolutely sure it is from being raised by my well meaning mother and a father who didn't know how to love, only, tease, make fun of and pull practical jokes on me. One time we were in the middle of nowhere coming home in the car late at night (Mom, Dad, my brother, and me.) Dad started jerking the accelerator and saying we were out of gas. I immediately started crying which was his intention. My mom laughed too because she basically didn't want to stand up to him. Things like that went on all the time. I won't bore you. I know as sure as I sit here that is where my Panic Disorder started. In fact, my dad would laugh and then yell at me saying look, she is panicking. That was one of the first big words I learned.
Sorry to make it all about me jaydyn. It just all pored out of me because you helped something click in me. I needed to get it out so it doesn't own or define me anymore. Thank you and God bless.