Comments on: Building Your Resilinecy: Part VI – Quit Catastrophizing

By: bradey

bradey — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:48:05 +0000

I do this all the time. I do this in school, work, and all my relationships. If I don’t. Do everything right this will lead to that and I am going to die a failure in the gutter in nova scotia. I would really like to thank you for the advice! I think it will help me at least realize when I am in self defeat mode, so I can then change the direction of my thoughts. Thanks again!

By: Trent

Trent — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:18:23 +0000

@Core

I think the point has been missed. Catastrophic thinking is created over a wide array of factors, but pessimism is a vital component in making it happen. When you catastrophize, you’re assuming the worst of situations. Pessimism, in several ways, fits exactly to a T by that definition. So, by being “just” optimistic, you are avoiding pessimism and therefore have a better chance at avoiding catastrophic thinking.

By: Brett McCaw

Brett McCaw — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:20:55 +0000

Great article — I would say that ‘not catastrophizing’ is a focal point to building resliency as a man in the contemporary American context. Paired with an overall effeminization of men, fear more and more seems to be THE motivator and dominant sentiment in life. To hell with living that way! Being a man committed to one’s faith tradition also is key here as well.

Happy Easter/Passover to all.

By: Louie

Louie — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:09:20 +0000

The “scientific diagram” absolutely killed me. It wasn’t on my screen when I read the introduction, scrolling down resulted in one hell of an outburst. Must of been fun making that…did you do that in paint? ..Kudos!

By: Nathan

Nathan — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 00:39:47 +0000

Great reference to Dale Carnegie’s book “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living”! I’ve applied that very technique (ask yourself what is the worst that can happen, accept it, then improve upon it), and it’s worked several times.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:13:39 +0000

I like this post. I really needed it today. I have been catostrophizing really badly since yesterday.

By: Core

Core — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 01:46:31 +0000

I read this… article. And Of the ‘Resiliency’ chapters I have read so far.. this seemed to be the least effected on me. I guess because I felt like a lot of the solutions mentioned above for the possible outcomes were just being optimistic.

And the negative outcomes didn’t sound so un-plausible. I guess for people like me who have been in situations that have gone from bad to worst real quick… maybe I am just jaded in my perspective. Its called the snowball effect… or domino effect.

By: Rick Smith

Rick Smith — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:28:56 +0000

In addition to catastrophizing in common day-to-day life, we can see the effects of catastrophizing in our political world. During Bush’s terms in office (the younger) extremists said we were on a slippery slope to hell, we would fall behind all other nations, and would generally be spoken of as the worst administration ever; now radicals tell us that our Commander in Chief isn’t a US citizen, is a Nazi-Socialist (etc), and that his policies will destroy the American way of life. Clearly the extremist claims on either side, regardless of your political stance, is illogical catastrophic rhetoric.

Real men see through this kind of propaganda and make intelligent decisions whether they agree or not.

By: Ryan K

Ryan K — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:12:05 +0000

This reminds me exactly what I read from “Feeling Good” by David D. Burns M.D.

I have actually gone through catastrophic thinking twice in my life, so far.

The first time was when I was 19 and deciding if I should stay in my major, Mechanical Engineering or switch to something I would enjoy…I eventually went with the latter and I was happier.

The second time happened recently. I was dropped from my training class for learning basic infantry officer skills. I could have lost my commission, my job, I would have loans to repay…it was bad day. I am now finishing up the training and I am about to graduate, I got the job specialty I wanted and I am happy and doing good things.

By: Jim Sowers

Jim Sowers — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:51:06 +0000

The beginning of the Dale Carnegie book ‘How to Stop Worrying And Start Living’ has the best techniques for stopping this kind of thinking that I have ever read.
Like other Carnegie books, the title sounds a little dated but this one is a solid read.
I liked it so much that I sent copies to several friends.