Understanding Catastrophizing in Your 20s

Catastrophizing is a cognitive distortion where individuals jump to the worst possible conclusion, often with limited information or reason to despair. This negative thinking style can take two forms: turning a current situation into a catastrophe or envisioning a future scenario as catastrophic. The pattern of catastrophizing can lead to heightened anxiety, depression, and anger-related issues, particularly in those susceptible to anxiety disorders. It can be challenging to break this thinking style, especially when it stems from childhood experiences of hyper-vigilance or anxious personalities.