I think we can experience many mini-nightmares during waking hours.
If you ever watch children for example (and you’re attentive at the task), there will be those moments that you’re SURE they’re about to get hurt and you get a mental flash of a horrible end and rush over to help.
Sometimes that same mechanism goes overboard in situations where one doesn’t need to be so attentive.
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Ah you’re talking about what my mother refers to as the “downward spiral”. She gets it more than I do. The mind latches onto a thought and won’t let go of it. From there it progresses downwards, faster and faster spiraling into certainty after certainty.
I work hard at not experiencing that because when I have, it’s been an awful experience. But I think my basic nature makes it easier for me to escape before getting dragged under. [or practice – no idea about nature/nurture here]. I don’t fault people who get sucked down into the whirlpool. It’s powerful.
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