50 things a person with anxiety and depression may fear

It’s astonishing how anxiety and depression affect us in different ways. Here is a list of 50 things a person with anxiety and depression may fear:

1. Social rejection (by friends, family, or colleagues).
2. Personal failure (not reaching goals or expectations).
3. Losing emotional control (having a breakdown in public).
4. Being a burden to others (feeling like you’re overwhelming people).
5. Loneliness (being isolated or abandoned).
6. Not being understood (having your feelings invalidated).
7. Interpersonal conflicts (arguments or fights with others).
8. Unexpected changes (loss of routine or stability).
9. Not being able to recover (the feeling that you won’t get better).
10. Being judged (for what you do or feel).
11. Failing at responsibilities (at home, work, or school).
12. Being seen as weak (for admitting vulnerabilities).
13. Being excluded (from social events or important decisions).
14. Having a relapse (even after improving).
15. Being a financial burden (to yourself or your family).
16. Receiving criticism (even constructive, it can feel like an attack).
17. Losing control over the future (anxiety about what’s to come).
18. Making wrong decisions (and deeply regretting them).
19. Being fired (or not being able to keep a job).
20. Feeling trapped in the situation (seeing no way out).
21. Lack of purpose (feeling that life has no meaning).
22. Serious illnesses (excessive worry about physical health).
23. Losing a loved one (constant fear of the death of close ones).
24. Being forgotten (that no one will remember them).
25. Constant self-criticism (being your own worst enemy).
26. Worrying about what others think (feeling watched or analyzed).
27. Being abandoned by friends or partners.
28. Not being able to handle day-to-day responsibilities.
29. Stagnation in life (not making progress or feeling growth).
30. Social phobia (interactions with others causing discomfort).
31. Losing all self-esteem (feeling worthless).
32. Watching your dreams collapse (and having no strength to react).
33. Fear of panic attacks (that could happen at any moment).
34. Losing interest in everything (feeling that nothing brings joy).
35. Pressure to be productive all the time.
36. Emotional or physical dependence on others (fear of not being self-sufficient).
37. Not being able to finish tasks (even the simplest ones).
38. Suffering emotional abuse (being manipulated or mistreated by others).
39. Feeling inferior (to others in various areas of life).
40. Being misunderstood by doctors or therapists.
41. Always worrying about the worst-case scenario (catastrophizing).
42. Feeling disconnected from reality (depersonalization or derealization).
43. Loss of control over your own actions.
44. Sleeping too much or too little (and feeling guilty about it).
45. Severe financial problems (worrying about debt or lack of money).
46. Shame about your own emotions (crying or showing weakness).
47. Not finding meaning in your professional or personal life.
48. Fear of not being accepted for who you are (lack of authenticity).
49. Difficulty asking for help (and feeling vulnerable doing so).
50. Being a “failure” to the people around you (even if that’s not true).

These fears often represent the insecurities and worries faced by people dealing with anxiety and depression.

Notice that all these facts are related to thoughts we have about ourselves or thoughts we have about what others will do or think of us. Everything is connected to what we think, and negative thoughts generate negative emotions. Therefore, if we learn to focus our thoughts on positive things, we can generate positive emotions and break the negative cycle that causes anxiety and depression. If you want to know how to do this, read our eBook Transform Your Life.