“What If I Choose Wrong?”: When Making Decisions Feels Overwhelming

If making decisions leaves you feeling paralysed or anxious, you're not alone. Discover why some people fear choosing and how therapy can help ease the pressure of “getting it right.”

woman standing in brown field while looking sideways

Some decisions feel bigger than they are. Whether it's choosing a job, a partner, or even a dinner option, the moment can become flooded with anxiety: What if I choose wrong? What if I regret it? What if I ruin everything?

For many people, this fear isn’t about the decision itself—it’s about what the choice seems to represent. If you grew up in an environment where mistakes were punished, where perfection was expected, or where you were made to feel responsible for others’ emotions, then deciding can feel dangerous. Like there's a “right” answer you must find, or you'll suffer the consequences.

In reality, most decisions are rarely final. What matters more than choosing “perfectly” is choosing in a way that honours your needs, your timing, and your truth. That’s not recklessness—it’s self-trust in progress.

Therapy can help you rebuild that inner trust. To see mistakes as part of learning, not failure. To move forward even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. The truth is, there’s rarely one right path—but there is always a way forward.