I learned a new word yesterday in t., Catastrophizing.
"Catastrophizing is an irrational thought a lot of us have in believing that something is far worse than it actually is."
I suffer from catastrophizing.
A simple thing that would not bother the average person, I can blow out of proportion and have myself so riled up with the worst case scenario.
I function this way many times. These irrational fears have stemmed from my mother and the negative fears that she put on me. Even to this day, she tries. Difference is I see them, but still I fall prey to them at times. My dad did that a lot too, especially when it came to being responsible.
Seeing the worst in things, is another stepping stone the Lord will uncover more and help me work through this kind of pain of fear as well. Boils down to having to trust God. Which is difficult now, but I am working on those trust issues. Trust, Trust, Trust!
One thing though, I can find humor in it when I do catastrophize, as it can be so bazaar of a behavior that I can only laugh.
One time about 15 years ago, I and unfortunately a co-dependent friend and I got the idea to go fly a kite. My irrational fears came about when a jet in the air was passing by some 30,000 feet up and the fear and thought of my poor kite which was up about 25 feet in the air getting tangled in the jet's engines. That is catastrophizing.
I bring that example up, from many to choose, because I recognize how severe this fear has been for me and always makes me laugh.
I find that there are a lot of factors that play into why I might go there with this type of fear initiated thinking.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this today!
Sweetie this is an interesting post. I laughed a bit with you on the kite. Can understand and relate somewhat. Thankyou for always sharing your heart.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being so real, love you.
ReplyDeleteMy mother's favorite response when I wanted to do almost anything growing up was, "It's against my better judgment, but go ahead." She'd let me do it, but her castrophizing allowed her to always be in a position to say, "I told you so." I think that's a good part of why I've always worked very hard to be an optimist and have a "glass is half full" mentality. It's not always easy in these days and times, but I think it's very important. Thanks for this and have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteLaughing at your fears is the best way to get over them!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great story. Even the sound of the word is funny. Next time I'm tempted to do that, I'm going to remind myself that I'm catastrophizing and I'm certain I won't be able to take myself so seriously! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI was just telling hubby this morning....Most of the things I have feared, have never come to pass ...By God's grace. I mean some have but the majority have not. It is alot of useless negative energy that saps us of our faith and health. Imagine if we just lived Fear Free.....
ReplyDeleteHugs, Ella
yeah, i have done that a couple times...and now i have a word to go with it...and a God who wil take care of it. smiles.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at yoru last comment about flying your kite. totally extreme, but I can so relate. Thanks for making my world less crazy.
ReplyDeleteHey J.B.R.,
ReplyDeleteI do this behavior too. And sometimes I can look at it and laugh because I start thinking one thing and then it leads to another and then another and finally the fear is so irrational, I can't help but laugh. Your right! We have to trust God because He won't let REALLY bad things happen to us. Jesus died on the cross and that was the WORST bad thing that can happen and He DID IT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO. Yes, sometimes we will suffer, but not as bad as we think with our irrational fears! I get it from my Mom too. However, I can't fault my Mom because she got it from her parents! The difference is I am looking at my issues so I don't pass it on to my kids. I am fortunate in that my Dad doesn't buy in to this irrational fears. He laughs with me or at me sometimes when I can't see the irrationality! Thanks for the post because I could really relate and I like the story of flying the kite because I could see myself doing that too.
Hugs my friend in Christ,
Amanda
Hehe..it's awesome you can laugh at it. And it's even better that you can recognise it.
ReplyDeleteHugs.
I used to be a catastrophizer (?spelling?)
ReplyDeleteThank God I have found balance and tools I can use by working the Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon programs.
Life is less a catastrophe today.
PG
I do this in my current situation of life.. I 'm not sure what our future(kids and mine) holds where my husband is concerned and so I imagine the worst scenarios.
ReplyDeleteI think that perhaps when it does happen I won't panic as much. Perhaps this is God's way of preparing me.
God Bless you, keep working through those thoughts and feelings.
Great example. I used to call "overreacting" whils catastrophizing sounded so catasthrophic and me, Paula, had nothing to do with THIS, right. Nowadays I can laugh about it. On low days I still let fear take over... but I do not call it overreacting anymore. Progress, right ;-))
ReplyDeleteEven today, after all of the recovery work that I have done, I find myself doing this also. When fear takes over, this happens until I recognise that most of what I worry about never happens.
ReplyDeletekeep up the good work JBR! You must have a great t.!!!
ReplyDeleteI can relate with that word. I always to that!
ReplyDeleteI often stop and say "demons get out of my head."