There isn’t one simple cause, but a few common factors can increase the likelihood of catastrophizing:
- Low self-esteem: If you struggle with self-worth, it’s easy to assume that others view you as unworthy, too. This can cause every neutral situation to feel like a personal rejection.
- Poor communication: When open dialogue is lacking, uncertainty grows. In the absence of clear information, our minds fill in the blanks—often with fearful assumptions.
- Past experiences: If you’ve faced betrayal, loss, or trauma in the past, your mind may be on high alert, bracing for history to repeat itself.
- Attachment styles: Anxious attachment, in particular, can make someone more sensitive to perceived threats of abandonment or disapproval.
Understanding what triggers your catastrophic thinking is key to managing it. Often, it’s not the situation itself—but how we interpret it—that causes distress.
