Why do people with anxiety often rehearse conversations that never happen?

[Shree]

Have you ever mentally prepared entire conversations or arguments that don’t actually take place? What do you think drives this habit, and does it ever help or just increase stress?

 

[JennyorAlice]

Yes. You want to be prepared for every possible outcome. It's better to do that and end up not having the conversation at all than it is to not prepare for the conversation and then it ends up happening.