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Aug 12, 2025
Why Your Brain Loves Catastrophes: Understanding the Science of Uncertainty, And How to Ease It.
In my psychology practice, I often see high-achieving clients who face a very human challenge: the brain’s habit of jumping to worst-case scenarios. As Professor Lisa Feldman Barrett explains, uncertainty is one of the brain’s top three biggest energy drains. And sometimes, to save mental fuel, your mind just leaps right into a catastrophe scenario. Think of it like your brain deciding, “If I imagine the worst right away, maybe I won’t have to keep worrying endlessly.”
The issue is that when we catastrophize, our responses can become overprotective or frantic and completely disproportionate to the situation.
It’s a bit like seeing an unopened email in your inbox and instantly thinking, “Oh no, I'm getting fired!” In reality, it’s just your brain’s way of trying to wrap things up quickly to feel a little more certain. So, if you find yourself catastrophizing about work or burnout, remember it’s just a quirky, ancient brain habit trying to cut down on uncertainty.
Here’s a simple strategy to try: when you notice this happening, pause and name it. Say to yourself, “This is just my brain’s shortcut to handle uncertainty.” Basically, fact check your thoughts. Then, take a deep breath and ask, “What’s a more balanced possibility?” This little shift can help you step out of the catastrophe loop. And if you’d like a bit more personalized support in rewiring these patterns, just reach out to me. I’m here to help.