Why do I always perceive the worst about something that doesn't even exist?

It sounds like you are over-anxious. Anxiety rarely makes sense and comes on even if there's nothing to stress about.

I am always in the fear of the unknown. The flight or fight response is always at the ready. When dealing with issues I am unfamiliar with, I will often put myself in the other's persons shoes; but when dealing with myself I have no other shoes to be in. I expect the worse because I dont know any other way.

That's what anxiety does to a person! We can also anticipate the worst in order to not to let down if the worst happens. It's an unfortunate thing our brain does to protect us from getting hurt.

People may perceive the worst outcome because it often seems like the more likely scenario. Especially if you are a negative person.

Your mind is a powerful tool. It creates realities wherever you steer it to and such it is important to realize as such a powerful tool the means to be able to control it. As you can perceive the worst, you also have the ability to perceive the best. When you recognize the dualities of life you in turn are able to see the power of a mind and begin to steer it to creating realities of strength, empowerment and ability.

It is common to perceive the worst about something that doesn't even exist because it is difficult to understand intense emotions. It is easy to self sabotage yourself into thinking you are much worse, lazier, heavier, worthless than you really are.

This is a pattern. You developed that pattern for a good reason. You might be looking for protection. Rather focus on the future you wish to have.

Aha, Anxiety !!!! its called Anxiety my friend...thats how anxiety works...maybe you were judged in the past or people treated you badly, so you always think, what if this happens or what if that happens, to avoid something like that happening again,,or maybe its because you love yourself too much, :)

There could be many reasons and none of them has anything to do with your value as a person. Sometimes it's anxiety, or stemming from previous trauma. When we face this emotion of worry,or when we stay present in the moment we may find that the feeling of imminent danger fades away gradually within an hour, making us re-evaluate the integrity of that thought that caused the anxiety in the first place :) Good luck

The tendency to percieve the worst about something that does not exist is a form of catastrophizing rumination. There are several causes for this way of thinking. It could be a learned way of thinking past on from a parent or guardian. It can also be a symptom of a mental health issue such as depression or PTSD. Cognitive behavour therapy is most useful in helping break free from such thinking. It teaches to challenge the validity of such thoughts and reframe them more realistically. This may also be a form of pessimism that can be changed through the practice of affirmative thinking and gratitude list