Good gracious I'm guilty of this one! If I have a Dr's appointment (especially with my Shrink aka p-doc), I will have lengthy conversations weeks ahead of time. I go over all possible conversational branches. Huh. I guess that could be a type of manipulation, but I don't really do it to STEER the conversation as much as to not be caught off guard. I hate feeling stupid.
A few years ago, though, my second kid was about 19 and living with my parents in another state (I'm in WV, they're in FL). They had her voluntarily committed, for a short time (suicidal ideation), and one day she just walked out of there. For the 8 months, or so, that she was gone, I could not turn my brain off. Trying to sleep was the worst. I just kept overthinking all the dangers she could be facing and fears she was dead. I could only sleep if I "passed out". I've never been able to break that cycle since. (She ended up walking from Pensacola to Chicago, to Virginia and then home in central WV and she's been here since.)
I don't really overthink any more. I try not to really think at all, about anything other than appointments or other social obligations. I numb my brain with tv shows and video games until I "pass out".. only to do the same thing every day thereafter
Heh. I guess I really should talk about this with my p-doc rofl.