My health anxiety screams at me, “You and your family could contract a disease and die.” Which although not the most likely, because we’re all under 60, isn’t 100% irrational in this day and age.

But for me with the self-talk that really gets me stalling an undertone of, “... because you will have f’d it up, you big dummy!”

That 2nd part is really responsible for 55% of the misery that my panic/anxiety causes me.

Let’s imagine you have a good friend who’s suffered some misfortune, would you allow them to blame, berate and punish themselves without saying a word? 

You deserve to treat yourself at least as kindly as you would a friend. I’ve been trying to apply this lately and have felt a great improvement.