To reverse the tendency to catastrophize, put your experience into perspective. Start by reminding yourself that unpleasant experiences—not having things go as you want—are an inevitable part of life. Then reframe your thoughts regarding whatever unpleasant experience is threatening to set off that second arrow.
What Causes Catastrophic Thinking? At the root of catastrophic thinking are fear and low self-esteem. We believe we are incapable of handling problems and imagine ourselves helpless. Those who struggle with catastrophic thinking most likely dealt with a traumatic childhood.
Is catastrophising a mental illness? Catastrophising is not officially categorised as a mental illness, however, it is a symptom of several mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. It is also a symptom that antagonises mental health disorders and conditions such as PTSD and makes them more severe.
Catastrophising is a tendency to assume the worst will happen when imagining a future situation – even if you have evidence that this is not the most likely outcome. People who like to feel in control (and are therefore intolerant of uncertainty) are more likely to catastrophise.
Catastrophising comes from the belief that by imagining what might go wrong, we're better able to protect ourselves from harm - both physical and mental. However, this tendency is only helpful if you're able to correctly predict what will happen in a certain situation and how it will make you feel.
As stated above, catastrophic thinking is often an outcome of PTSD. This condition is severe but typically treatable with outside intervention. This reality — combined with the potentially debilitating effects of emotional overwhelm — points you in the direction of counseling.
What causes catastrophizing? It's unclear what exactly causes catastrophizing. It could be a coping mechanism learned from family or other important people in a person's life. It could be a result of an experience, or could be related to brain chemistry.
Individuals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) engage in what psychologists refer to as “catastrophizing.” This phrase is used to describe the repeated mental simulation of unlikely catastrophic scenarios.
Summary. Catastrophizing is when you think something, someone, or a situation is way worse than what the reality actually is. It's associated with some mental illnesses like anxiety disorders, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Reorient yourself: Many of us with ADHD have wildly active imaginations that veer quickly to catastrophizing. We have irrational thoughts that lead us to believe that a situation is far worse than it actually is. We make a catastrophe out of a current situation and imagine the worst-case scenario in the future.
Catastrophic thinking can be a symptom of generalized anxiety or other anxiety disorders, but it also contributes to it. You're feeding into the anxiety instead of learning how to manage it, which can trigger unhealthy behavior patterns that keep you stuck.
Catastrophizing means that a person fixates on the worst possible outcome and treats it as likely, even when it is not. It is a type of cognitive distortion. Here are some examples of catastrophizing: “If I fail this test, I will never pass school, and I will be a total failure in life.”
Usually, when we think of daydreaming, we think about imagining something. It could include replaying memories over and over in your head, thinking about your goals or interests, or imagining an unlikely or likely future scenario. Most of the time, we think of daydreaming as something that's voluntary.
Are you always waiting for disaster to strike or excessively worried about things such as health, money, family, work, or school? If so, you may have a type of anxiety disorder called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). GAD can make daily life feel like a constant state of worry, fear, and dread.
Catastrophic thinking, also known as catastrophizing, is irrational thinking that may cause you to assume that adverse outcomes will occur. There are many potential causes for catastrophizing, such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and chronic pain.
Catastrophising is a tendency to assume the worst will happen when imagining a future situation - even if you have evidence that this is not the most likely outcome. People who like to feel in control (and are therefore intolerant of uncertainty) are more likely to catastrophise.
Some people wonder if frequently talking to themselves suggests they have an underlying mental health condition, but this usually isn't the case. While people with conditions that affect psychosis such as schizophrenia may appear to talk to themselves, this generally happens as a result of auditory hallucinations.
Overthinking is commonly associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), says Duke. GAD is characterized by the tendency to worry excessively about several things. “Someone can develop GAD due to their genes. Or it could be personality factors like the inability to tolerate uncertainty in life.