Benton notes that it can be useful to make a habit of challenging yourself, especially if you're someone who tends to assume the worst will happen. She offers this example: A student got all As in high school, but gets a C on her first chemistry exam in college. “By the time she gets to her car after class, she’s convinced herself she’s going to be a complete failure in life, be homeless, and die under a bridge somewhere,” Benton says. “Your head goes to muck. You have thought after thought that feeds your anxiety.”