What is catastrophizing?

Always thinking the worst is going to happen in a situation.

Why did we start doing this?

• Helped us survive all the dysfunction and trauma we lived through. Allowed us to be one step ahead of the problems.

Why being prepared for the worst was good to start out with as a kid.

• We were always ready, day or night, to deal with the worst. We could never let our guard down.

How it turned to being bad for us.

• We started limiting our choices.
• Didn’t take chances for fear that the worst would happen.
• Started to always see things as being negative.
• Did have fun and didn’t enjoy life as a problem was only a second away.

What can we do about it?

• Therapy
• Meditation
• Mindfulness
  • (Is it healthy for me to always think the worst is going to happen? Is it true?)
  • Be in the moment.
  • Self parent (imagine yourself as a kid, go up to him, and hug him).

Tip: I recommend that you read the book The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks.