The Worst That Could Happen

Kat commented on my post yesterday with something I thought I'd expand on.  She said, "It is way too easy to imagine bad things happening when you have kids. I think it's a survival technique-- or at least I try to tell myself that-- if I can think a few steps ahead, and imagine what could go wrong, and prevent it, then that's a good thing. It does lead to some scary imaginings, though."

Here I was thinking I was the only one who did that!  *phew*  lol  Really though, I kinda thought I was being a little crazy...neurotic at least.  Glad I'm not alone.

When I'm in any given situation my mind automatically goes into worst-case-scenario-mode.  It dreams up the absolute most horrific thing I can imagine happening.  Terror will wash over me and bile will rise in the back of my throat.  Tears coat my eyes and my hands shake.  Then I take a deep breath and begin thinking my way out of it.  What would I do?  How would I stop it?  How could I prevent it from happening in the first place?

An example:

We were at the mall one day, Super Spawn, Sister, and I.  It was storming outside and lightening struck, leaving us without power.  All the stores closed, forcing everyone out into the central area, and nobody was allowed to leave through the main doors.  (I don't know why...that still seems so odd.)

Now, I don't like crowds.  The worst things always happen when there's a crowd of people.  Super Spawn started freaking out and launched me into Super Mom Escape Mode.  Sister perched Super Spawn on her hip and I slung the stroller over my shoulder, and we picked our way through the people and down the still escalator.

All I could think is, "Someone is about to start shooting.  Someone is going to pull a gun and what will I do?  How will I keep my sister and child safe?"

Sister will tell you...I was freaking out.  In the end, we all got out safely (We got out a side door and climbed down a big embankment.  That was fun.  Not.), and nobody got shot.  Of course.  Still, that pressing worry of what would happen next is what drove me.

I realized when Kat posted that comment that those situations influence my writing as well.  My mind is used to panic-mode setting in and dreaming up awful happenings.  Too bad for my characters, huh?  lol

So are Kat and I the only ones who do this?  Do you dream up the worst that could happen during your normal days?  And more so...do you use this technique for your stories?