Worry

The root of much unnecessary anxiety: a demand that one get an ironclad, surefire, one-hundred-percent guarantee that something unpleasant absolutely will not occur.
This is from Three Minute Therapy Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life Michael R. Edelstein, Ph.D. He also states that the quest for a guarantee in life is the quest for anxiety.
It’s that old must or should, to do well in all circumstances with an iron clad guarantee:

I must do well and win the approval of others or else I am no good.

Summary

Inflexible

Places unrealistic expectations on oneself

Over-concern with others' opinion of oneself

Self-worth measured by achievement and popularity

Non-self-accepting

Sub-beliefs

I must have love and approval from everybody.

I need someone to love me.

I must not do anything that would cause others to think less of me.

I must be competent and successful.

I must have an important skill or talent.

I must successfully avoid unpleasant or undesirable situations.

Unpleasant and undesirable situations upset me.

I can't control my emotions in difficult situations.

I must avoid dangerous or life-threatening situations.

If I do encounter such situations, I must worry about them to make them go away.

I must think, feel and act the same as I always have.

My past has such a strong influence on me that I cannot change.

I must find order, certainty, and predictability in life.

If I don't find these things, I cannot feel comfortable or act competently.

I must depend on other people because I can't depend on myself.

I must rely on superstition and religion especially in difficult times.

I must understand the secrets of the universe.

I cannot be happy unless I understand the nature and secrets of the universe.

I must rate myself as either "good" and "worthy," or "bad" and "worthless."

To be "good," and "worthy," I must be competent, successful and popular.

If I am not competent, successful or popular then I am "bad" and "worthless."

I must never feel depressed, anxious or enraged.

Emotional Consequences

Depression

Anxiety and/or panic

Self Downing

Behavioral Consequences

Risk-avoidance

Shyness

Procrastination

Unassertiveness

Workaholism

So, here is the deal. I had a stroke 7 years ago and am recovering well, living independently, driving, income from pensions, and practising my art at a pretty high level.
So 3 months ago I was pushed by a stranger, broke my hip and elbow and am living again on a recovery ward, feeling like I did when I was homeless from the stroke and had no income, scared scared scared. I eventually got to a place where I don’t know what is going to happen but I’ll figure it out and I’ll talk to strangers and ask for what I want if and when I need appropriate assistance. Things have a way of working out.
If only because they are not as bad as they seem, they seem bad because I am demanding a guarantee, not because of the situation is demanding anything.
What is ‘bad’ anyway? Awful, terrible, I can’t stand it or any other lies I upset myself with. Based on experience my recent setbacks have been an inconvenience and a concern, sometimes even a grave concern, and have dealt with reasonably and rationally seeking professional help from strangers. The I do my best to ignore it and focus on my various satisfactions.
What good can I make of this? Well, the stroke got me forgiven $60,000 worth of debt. I no longer was able to work at a job to service the debt. The time and income to make art and publish books was suddenly mine. The constant physiotherapy to start recovering got me in decent health and physical shape.
The broken hip got me $6000.00 worth of psychotherapy Because the hip was a trauma. I like my new therapy adventure.
I made 2 new friends at the building who came to visit me. I upgraded some kitchen equipment with the money I saved from living in a recovery ward and not buying groceries. To be continued…