Catastrophizing is a cognitive distortion—a way of thinking where we jump to the worst possible conclusion and assume that disaster is imminent. It’s not just a flair for the dramatic; it’s a real mental process where small concerns snowball into imagined crises.
For example, if a friend cancels plans last-minute, you may immediately think, “They must not like me anymore,” instead of considering they might be facing a genuine emergency. Or if your partner seems distracted, your thoughts might spiral into fears of betrayal or abandonment.
This kind of exaggerated thinking distorts reality and makes it harder to interpret situations accurately, leaving you anxious, insecure, and emotionally drained.
