Why you imagine future arguments that never happen
Your brain rehearses a debate that is not even real yet.
Imaginary conflict is often the mind trying to feel prepared.
Future arguments often show up when the brain is trying to reduce social risk. It starts generating scripts, comebacks, and outcomes so you will not feel caught off guard later.
The problem is that these simulations can become their own emotional event. You react to a conversation that has not happened, and sometimes never will.
That is why imagined arguments can leave you tense or drained. The body still responds to the scene even when it only exists in your head.