It's the most common reaction we have to uncertain situations. Our brains interpret uncertainty as danger, which is why — in our minds — a typo at work turns into us being fired or a failed test turns into us dropping out of school. Thanks to our ancient ancestors, our brains are designed to expect the worst.
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.
Catastrophizing is when someone assumes that the worst will happen. Often, it involves believing that you're in a worse situation than you really are or exaggerating the difficulties you face. For example, someone might worry that they'll fail an exam.
Catastrophizing 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 catastrophize.
People may learn the habit of catastrophising because they've had a bad experience before that they didn't see coming. To protect themselves in the future, they start imagining the worst possible scenarios in every situation, because they don't want to be caught off-guard again.
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.
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.
Spiraling negative thoughts can be a result of overthinking. This tends to happen when we have few distractions – which is why lying awake at night churning things over in our mind is a familiar feeling to many. At the time, negative thoughts may seem completely rational and logical. So we believe them to be true.
Wind-down should take place somewhere outside of your bedroom. Keep the lights dim and avoid using anything with a screen (tablets, phones, computers, TV), as this can make your brain think it's still daytime. Reading, light stretching, journaling and meditating are all great options.
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.
The tendency to catastrophize prior to a traumatic event predicts PTSD symptoms and disorder onset among adults exposed to occupational traumas (e.g., firefighters (Bryant & Guthrie, 2005)).
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.
Constant worrying and overthinking can often lead to issues with mental health and well-being. Techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, self-compassion, and asking for help from a healthcare professional can help alleviate the stress of overthinking.
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.
Intrusive thoughts are not unique to people who are struggling with a mental health concern(s). They are also experienced by individuals who do not routinely struggle with anxiety. In fact, research has found that over 90% of the population experiences intrusive thoughts (Abramowitz, Deacon, & Whiteside, 2011).
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.
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.
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.
It is thought to be a mechanism to regulate negative emotional responses. Focusing on negative thoughts puts stress on the body that can manifest in physical symptoms and conditions. Some suggest that low self-esteem and fear form the root cause of catastrophizing.
Trauma-related distress has been defined as psychological distress as a direct result of experiencing a stressful event (APA, 2013). The psychological distress typically manifests as intrusive thoughts (e.g. flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance), which are typically about the traumatic event experienced.