Catastrophic thinking after trauma

After I have been through various events in my life which I consider today as traumatic, I developed an obsession for safety. This obsession was based on assuming that the worst will happen. I became good at catastrophic thinking which caused a good deal of anxiety and stress.

As more time passed, catastrophic thinking became a day-to-day strategy for me to ensure that I will never be in such situations in my life again.

But having catastrophic thoughts over and over impacted my daily life. As I suffered from this cognitive distortion, it became very clear to me I needed to do something to cope with this situation. It was at that time that I joined 7cups and started to work on regaining my sense of safety and trust and build my self esteem.

When catastrophic thinking starts, it may be helpful to remind ourselves of the following and ask yourself these questions:

1. First you need to become aware of what your mind is doing and respond to it. You can say: “ Stop! You’re going down that catastrophizing road again [Link to video] and it’s only going to make an unpleasant situation worse.”

2. Remind yourself that unpleasant experiences—not having things go as you want—are an inevitable part of life.

3. Ask: What evidence do I have that this thought is realistic?

4. Ask: What evidence do I have that this thought is not realistic?

5. Ask: What are other ways to see the situation?

6. Remind yourself of situations where you’re thought did not come true and all went okay at the end

7. Observe how your thoughts change when you are in a more relaxed state of mind

8. Practise mindfulness about your thoughts. It can help to weaken their power and let go of them

How do you feel that you are regularly caught up in negative thinking? Give an example.

How do you challenge your thoughts when you realise that you are caught up in a mental loop?

If you have many catastrophic thoughts, you may find it helpful to discuss them with a therapist. Cognitive behaviour therapy can help you to learn coping skills and to reframe your thoughts so that you can live a better life. If you are looking for online therapy at 7cups, there is a paid option. More info here https://www.7cups.com/online-therapy/?ob=1

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