A psychotherapeutic term for a cognitive distortion where anxiety or depression leads you to infer apocalyptic conclusions from mundane setbacks and anxieties.
Catastrophizing usually comes in a litany of steps that start from a mundane setback all the way to absolute existential hoplessness. For instance:
1. Oh no, I'm going to be late for work.
2. My boss is going to be angry.
3. I'm going to lose my job.
4. I'm not going to be able to get another one.
5. I'm going to be unemployed forever.
6. My family will starve.
7. Oh God, we're all going to die!!!
Each step in the sequence is arguably plausible, but the snowball effect takes it into the realms of absurdity after a while.
1. Oh no, I'm going to be late for work.
2. My boss is going to be angry.
3. I'm going to lose my job.
4. I'm not going to be able to get another one.
5. I'm going to be unemployed forever.
6. My family will starve.
7. Oh God, we're all going to die!!!
Each step in the sequence is arguably plausible, but the snowball effect takes it into the realms of absurdity after a while.
by The Logical Fallacy August 19, 2018
Get the Catastrophizing mug.by Dr Bunnygirl February 1, 2019
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When a hell-hole hits a cataclysm.
This word was coined by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show on October 3, 2006.
Republican senator Linsey Graham's comments from the Daily Show clip:
"If it is seen that our country is trying to define the Geneva Convention to meet the needs of the CIA, why can't every other country redefine the Geneva Convention to meet the needs of their secret police? It would be a disaster."
Jon Stewart's response:
"Yes, a disaster, as opposed to what we have in Iraq now. Uh, what's it called when a hell-hole hits a cataclysm? A, uh... catastrofuck.
(pause)
I just coined that, didn't I?"
This word was coined by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show on October 3, 2006.
Republican senator Linsey Graham's comments from the Daily Show clip:
"If it is seen that our country is trying to define the Geneva Convention to meet the needs of the CIA, why can't every other country redefine the Geneva Convention to meet the needs of their secret police? It would be a disaster."
Jon Stewart's response:
"Yes, a disaster, as opposed to what we have in Iraq now. Uh, what's it called when a hell-hole hits a cataclysm? A, uh... catastrofuck.
(pause)
I just coined that, didn't I?"
Friend 1: Wow, have you heard about the latest shit going on in Iraq?
Friend 2: Yeah. What a catastrofuck.
Friend 2: Yeah. What a catastrofuck.
by Eric D on the MIC September 23, 2008
Get the Catastrofuck mug.Noun: an individual who persistently presents situations as vastly worse than they actually are, to a degree that is almost indistinguishable from satire. Serial catastroboothers are seldom seen in the workplace, because they are just soooooo ill aaaaallll the tiiiime.
Doctor: Can you please rate the pain out of ten?
Catastroboother: Three hundred and seventy two.
Doctor: Seriously, though?
Catastroboother: I am being serious.
Doctor: Please go home.
Helga’s tendency to catastrobooth her workload at the sausage emporium led her to report 170 hours of labour per week. The log book showed she was actually in for a weekly average of 92 minutes.
Catastroboother: Three hundred and seventy two.
Doctor: Seriously, though?
Catastroboother: I am being serious.
Doctor: Please go home.
Helga’s tendency to catastrobooth her workload at the sausage emporium led her to report 170 hours of labour per week. The log book showed she was actually in for a weekly average of 92 minutes.
by Lancaster's Second Finest January 19, 2020
Get the Catastroboother mug.to hyper-imagine negative outcomes to a situation that have no basis in reality. to blow setbacks or problems out of proportion such that you sprial into an emotional catastrophe.
Joe sat, stuck in traffic, and he began to catastrophize missing delivering the perfect sales pitch, losing the commission that he planned to spend on his new outfit that he would wear to the club to meet the perfect girl. He fell into despair as he realized how pointless his life was because of the traffic.
by ballistickitten August 17, 2008
Get the catastrophize mug.A more severe/extreme version of Down Bad or Down Horrendous. The term is usually used to describe someone who hasn't had a significant other or a hookup in a very long time and is just downright desperate for literally anyone at this point so that they can experience love, lust, affection, and everything in between.
Marie: "Hey, isn't this boy cute?" *Shows picture of HIDEOUS boy*
Stacie: *Throws up* "Ew Marie! You are definitely down catastrophic!"
Moral of the story is, don't get to a point where you're down catastrophic.
Stacie: *Throws up* "Ew Marie! You are definitely down catastrophic!"
Moral of the story is, don't get to a point where you're down catastrophic.
by KyeKage February 17, 2021
Get the Down Catastrophic mug.An event that occurs when one continually opens new tabs in a web browser without closing old ones, causing the user to get lost and confused in the sheer number of open websites.
There are two primary elements that cause this:
1. Not closing them JUST IN CASE you will go back to them later, similar to pack rats
2. Laziness
There are two primary elements that cause this:
1. Not closing them JUST IN CASE you will go back to them later, similar to pack rats
2. Laziness
Last night I went to check Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Fark, and all of my webcomics at the same time ... and before I knew it I had a catabstrophe on my hands! I didn't know which tab to click next!
by belgianrofls September 9, 2009
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