People who catastrophize get stuck on the worst possible outcome. A mistake or disappointment can amount to abject failure.
1. If I were fired, I don't think I’d ever get another job.
2. If my partner forgot to call me, I’d assume a serious accident occurred.
3. If I got a bad grade in school, it would have a serious impact on my future.
4. If my partner forgot our anniversary, it would be a huge red flag for our relationship.
5. If I made a mistake in a presentation, I wouldn't panic.
6. If I send a text and don’t get a quick response, I assume the person could be mad at me.
7. I worry that a headache is a sign of something like a brain tumor.
8. If my partner doesn’t promptly return calls, they may be up to no good.
9. If I miss a work deadline, I feel like my job is on the line.
10. I like critical feedback, because it helps me improve.
11. My mind quickly jumps to worst-case scenarios.
12. I worry about high-risk physical activities.
13. If I don’t get into my college of choice, I will be doomed to fail.
14. If my heart is beating fast, I must be having a heart attack.
15. Being laid off can open up new opportunities.
16. If I wake up feeling a bit sick, I think it could be the start of a major illness.
17. It is often hard to see how a difficult situation could improve over time.
18. If I do poorly on a presentation, it could be the end of my career.
19. If a plane ride is turbulent, I fear that we are crashing.
20. Even if my partner and I argue, I know we have a strong relationship.