Most people are quite good at painting the darkest, worst outcome to a difficult situation. You can easily scare yourself to death with fantasies of failures and negative outcomes! Try flipping your negative fantasy on its head and write or imagine a situation in which things turn out very well. Sound silly? This activity can be powerful in changing an anxious mood - and help you feel better.
Create your own fantasy flip using any situation that makes you feel bad. This is a good way to use your imagination to create positive outcomes in situations that worry you. It may also reveal inner strengths that you didn't know you had.
Use the tabs to switch between a worrisome fantasy and a fantasy flip for the same situation: a man received a new prescription for pain relief discovers that the pharmacy has closed for the day.
I keep having anxious thoughts that I won't be able to take the pain while I'm waiting for the pharmacy to open. I'm going to have a couple of drinks so that I don't have to think about it anymore. This sucks!
I have been able to control my pain before and can do it now. I can handle this until the pharmacy opens in the morning. I'm going to relax, rub some cream on my back, and wait for the pain to ease up. The nurse taught me a relaxation technique to try when the pain flares up - and now is a great time to try it out. I'm going to take deep breaths, focus on the pain getting smaller and smaller, and observe how the pain leaves my body.