“What if” spiral. The social anxiety thought loop from hell. “What if I say the wrong thing?” “What if they don’t like me?” “What if I make a fool of myself?” The “what if” spiral can trap you in a cycle of anxiety and prevent you from engaging socially altogether. Then, I discovered a “what if” spiral interrupting trick. A mental reset button for runaway “what if” thoughts.
The trick wasn’t about eliminating “what if” thoughts entirely, but about challenging them, reframing them, and interrupting the spiral before it takes over. My trick was: “What if…it goes well?” Consciously flipping the “what if” from negative to positive, forcing my mind to consider positive outcomes instead of just dwelling on worst-case scenarios. “What if” spiral ending trick wasn’t about magical thinking, but about cognitive reframing and challenging negative thought patterns. “What if” spirals lessened in frequency and intensity, replaced by a more balanced, less catastrophizing approach to social anticipation. Challenge your “what if” spirals. Flip them to positive possibilities. “What if…it goes well?” You might be surprised.