🌪️ Catastrophizing: Why Does the Mind Always Jump to the Worst Case?
Picture this. You send in an assignment five minutes late. ⏰ The brain? “That’s it. I’m failing the entire semester.” Or, you see a friend’s “seen” on your message but no reply. The mind whispers: “They’re upset. Maybe this friendship is over.” 👉 This habit of imagining the absolute worst possible outcome — often without any real proof — is called catastrophizing . --- 🌱 What Exactly Is Catastrophizing? Catastrophizing is a cognitive distortion — this means the brain takes a situation and twists it into something scarier than it is. 💡 Cognitive distortions aren’t intentional — they’re automatic thinking patterns that can make reality seem darker, more dangerous, or hopeless. In catastrophizing: ✨ A small problem feels like a huge crisis. ✨ A tiny doubt becomes a giant fear. ✨ A simple setback feels like the start of endless failure. 🧠 Our brain, trying to “protect” us, keeps scanning for danger — and sometimes, it overreacts. --- 🎭 How It Plays Out in Real Life 💼 Work: ...