A Word or Two on Catastrophic Thinking

“Catastrophisizing is when someone assumes that the worst will happen. It involves believing that you’re in a worse situation than you really are or exaggerating the difficulties you face.” –Healthline

I learned about this one in my therapy. It’s when your negative thinking can spin out of control and out of proportion with the reality of the situation.

One example of this: Someone makes a mistake a work and they worry how terrible the error was and that they could be fired for it.

This kind of thinking is pretty darn destructive.

And, I fall into its trap. I’m heading out this week on a trip and I noticed that I was focusing on all the things that can go wrong with flights, trains, food, access to restrooms, etc. My mind was so concerned about the logistics that I’ve disconnected from positive feelings of this trip: visiting my best friend, reconnecting with my own sense of wonder through exploring the city, and visioning the future of Unstuck on You. There really are so many good things that I’ve overlooked by thinking this way. I’m reminded that I can choose what I focus on.

The good news is that I get out of the hole a little more quickly these days, by seeing how I got there. One way to reduce this way of thinking can be done through mindfulness and reframing those thoughts. Therapy is also a helpful place to work through these thoughts. Mostly, because a therapist can offer you a different perspective and help you “see” when this kind of thinking may show up for you. Don’t have a therapist, a friend will do.

Don’t let catastrophic thinking take the joy out of your experiences.