Catastrophic thinking patterns.
Think, worse-case scenarios and a pin-ball of anxious thoughts. A rolodex of fear-mongering possibilities. A risk manager.
It sounds like…
I didn’t get enough sleep last night, I am going to get sick.
I messed up an assignment at work and my supervisor asked to meet. I am getting fired.
The fire truck is headed in the direction of my house. I probably left the stove on. My house is on fire. The insurance won’t cover it because I was a day late on my last payment. We won’t be able to rebuild. We will have to move away. Change schools. Get new jobs. And life as we know it will be altered forever.
It is primal. This thought pattern functions to prepare and protect. Your brain sees a possibility—it ignores probability—and races to be ready for survival.
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While this thought pattern has value and can be helpful in the right setting. In others, it can feel distracting and exhausting.
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Journal Prompt: My catastrophic thinking says…
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Boundaries: Journal Prompt Series
Anxiety: Journal Prompt Series
Big Decisions: Journal Prompt Series
Mental Health & Journaling 