Is it normal to worry about something that is actually not happening?

It's slightly normal, but some people would call it paranoia or being over cautious. I do think it's wise to be informed of things around you and to have knowledge can be empowering. In terms of terrorist attacks, sadly it is something we must learn to live with and try to avoid in our lives. As long as you are sensible, then that's all you can do. For instance people going on holiday to Syria and then getting kidnapped is not a wise thing to do and has happened.


Being responsible is sensible, but worrying can't always change the inevitable.

Worrying about all the problems the world is facing can be tiring, you have to accept that you don't have any control over what goes on in the world regarding terrorism, rape, disasters and so on. You can influence and change the people around you for the better though, it's how you can make a difference. It's normal to worry about all the big problems on this earth, we're humans and it's in our nature to care.

I remember when I was in college that my father was always telling me that I am a worrier. Especially when there is a family trip, I would be checking the car - gasoline, water, tires, etc. And while on the road, I would be a backseat driver to my father who was driving the car. That is just one example of how I worry. And when I got a job, the worrying was even more. It may be a coincidence that I had learned the so called Potential Problem Analysis which is actually projecting potential problems (which I think I have a mastery of). Although I am not a worrywart anymore, I would say that it is perfectly normal to worry because you are just trying to be safe in the best way you could. Besides, you may not be worrying just for yourself but also for the others. But if you worry with no reason at all, then that is paranoia already and it is not good. 

To worry too much about something that you know is not happening is allowing yourself to be miserable in vain. I think being concerned and even worried about some things is natural. We care. Just make sure you are being the boss of your thoughts and don't follow them blindly. If your thoughts start with "what if..." that's fiction. Tell yourself that unless there is something you can do right now, there is not point in entertaining the idea and that you'll cross the bridge when you come to it.

There is a difference between taking measures because you want to prevent things from happening or have had already bad experiences and when you are obsessing about a negative thought of something that is really far-fetched chance and not under your control at all. I guess it is natural that we want to keep things under our control but we need to learn to let it go, especially when it comes to whoever is not ourselves. They will make their own decisions and gauge things differently than us.

When I find myself thinking too much about tomorrow or what might be going on elsewhere it helps me to close my eyes, feel my breathing, ask myself where I am right now and separate what is fact from fiction my brain is feeding.

The only time I do this is when I believe I have some kind of cancer or deadly illness, and I believe the symptoms are progressing (when really, I am the one that is actually making them worse - in my head.)

I can completely 100% convince myself that I am dying of something, or have just found a hidden symptom that I haven't noticed until just now, and that all along I've had this terrible symptom and illness... and now I'm doomed. Usually I need a family member (and more than likely) a doctor to tell me that I am wrong. Even then, I have my doubts. Until years and years pass and I am still alive....that's when it dawns on me that maybe everyone else was right, and I was wrong. Terrible.

I feel anxious and worried most of the time. For no apparent reason as well. I just feel scared and panicky inside that something bad is going to happen. I know that everything is okay, but at times I find myself clenching my fists and biting my lips for fear of what is about to happen.

This world can be stressful, so I feel anxious sometimes, but I try not to let that feeling take over. Most of the time, my main thing is that it seems like I'm always "on", like a wind-up toy of some kind; and someone has wound me up and broken the "off" switch. I have to sometimes talk to myself and tell myself to slow down, calm down, be quiet, everything is fine, take your time.

When I was younger, I used to worry a lot, but I grew out of it. As an adult, I put myself in many situations where worry was almost a given. These days I try to handle my affairs a bit better in order to avoid the feeling of being out-of-control, or overwhelmed by situations.

I can't speak for everyone, but in my view it is hard not to worry if things that are troubling you are close to home. I can read about the wars and ISIS, and not really be affected enough to be stressed over it, but give me someone who rudely speaks to me about something that will affect my personal safety or wages, friends or family, and I get scared and that leads to worrying about my future. Once I get freaked out and since I have fibromyalgia, anything can go wrong medical and physically, and mostly mentally and I can not cope. Is this normal? What is normal?

I think it is pretty normal to feel anxious. We live in a difficult world, where beauty and bad things co-exist. Some people don’t get when someone is precautious until they face something that made them realize that being prepared is better. Although being anxious for everything is not good for our health, it is hard to avoid it. So what I try to do is do the best I can to protect me and to avoid dangers but also I try to have in mind that life will happen. For me that means that I have to accept that something bad can happen to me anytime and I have to let my life flow.

tomorrow said:

I think this is mainly because we are living in a world full of negative news and happenings around. If you open TV you can see it's full of negative issues like terrorism, corruption, rape, murder and what not.

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I do not watch too much news or read newspapers because I get anxious. I try to do it just enough to be slightly informed but not too much to be absorbed into them.

tomorrow said:

I think this is mainly because we are living in a world full of negative news and happenings around. If you open TV you can see it's full of negative issues like terrorism, corruption, rape, murder and what not. There is very limited programs focusing on good things happening. Media is also not in favor of sharing good news as they know it won't attract audience as everybody want breaking news.

I think the only way to come out of this vicious circle is to try to find positive traits in every thing. In fact there is a positive face for all and we need to find it.

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I wish there was a positive news channel. Wouldn't that be great! a news channel that focused on all the wonderful and good things that are happening in the world. Don't they say, though, 'no news is good news'?

tomorrow said:

Thanks for all these valuable advice, it really helps a lot. I don’t think I am always worrying without a reason. When my kids go to an exam I advise them to keep an extra copy of hall ticket with them so that in case they lose one they can use the second copy. While driving my car I always keep a second key in pocket. Whenever I give my car to somebody I give both keys to them.


I insist on these precautions because in the past I already had some bad experiences in similar situations and I don’t want to get these repeated. I could not attend a very important exam as I forgot to carry my hall ticket with me. In another occasion my car keys got trapped inside the car when the doors were closed automatically. Finally I had to call a mechanic to open the door forcibly using a scale. I was in another State when a communal riot broke out and I experienced how worst it could be.

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I think the above examples are totally justified as you have simply learnt from your past experiences. However, worrying about natural calamities or terrorist attacks may be little uncalled for as these are the things you have no control over. It is good to take precautions but I don't how you can escape from a natural disaster when even the weatherman cannot predict it beforehand.

Thinking too much about everything that is not necessarily going to happen can be tiring for the mind. It is good to have faith and deviate that energy instead in something more constructive.