Has anyone else had experience with a similar type of fear? Does anyone have suggestions as to an appropriate response?
I think you have to make some personal decisions:
To what extent are my feelings something I can control over the long run, via therapy or medication, or by choosing my environment, activities, my line of work?
How important is wellbeing to me? Do I sometimes sacrifice wellbeing in order to pursue other goals? Is that a necessary tradeoff, or do I just not have the skill right now to both feel well and work effectively on my other goals?
What other goals, if any, should I prioritize that might compete with maximizing my wellbeing? How should I trade off one against the other?
Nobody has a definitive answer to any of these questions.
I think you have to make some personal decisions:
To what extent are my feelings something I can control over the long run, via therapy or medication, or by choosing my environment, activities, my line of work?
How important is wellbeing to me? Do I sometimes sacrifice wellbeing in order to pursue other goals? Is that a necessary tradeoff, or do I just not have the skill right now to both feel well and work effectively on my other goals?
What other goals, if any, should I prioritize that might compete with maximizing my wellbeing? How should I trade off one against the other?
Nobody has a definitive answer to any of these questions.