catastrophizers
Worst-case thinkers
Catastrophizers are people who habitually imagine the worst possible outcomes, blowing minor setbacks into major disasters.
The term comes from psychology, where catastrophizing describes a cognitive distortion—assuming that if something can go wrong, it will, and badly: The catastrophizers in the office had everyone convinced layoffs were imminent.
The label often carries gentle mockery.
People who exaggerate reactions
- alarmistsThose spreading excessive worry
- Chicken LittlesOverreactors to minor threats
- doomsayersThose predicting disaster
- overreactorsThose who respond excessively
attention seekers · exaggerators · worrywarts · nervous Nellies · harbingers · fearmongers
Chronically anxious people
- overthinkersPeople who dwell excessively
- ruminatorOne who dwells mentally
- magnifiersLenses that enlarge appearances
- pessimistsThose assuming negative outcomes
hypervigilant · irrational fears · anticipatory anxiety · emotional reasoning
Restructuring maladaptive thought patterns
- thought patternsHabitual cognitive pathways
- anxiety disorderMental illness causing overwhelming fear
- panic disorderRecurrent unexpected fear attacks
- chronic painEnduring physical suffering
mental health treatment · psychological assessment · mindfulness practice · exposure therapy
drama queens
People who exaggerate reactions
- alarmistsThose spreading excessive worry
- Chicken LittlesOverreactors to minor threats
- doomsayersThose predicting disaster
overreactors · attention seekers · exaggerators · worrywarts · nervous Nellies · harbingers · fearmongers
worriers
Chronically anxious people
- overthinkersPeople who dwell excessively
- ruminatorOne who dwells mentally
- magnifiersLenses that enlarge appearances
pessimists · hypervigilant · irrational fears · anticipatory anxiety · emotional reasoning
cognitive therapy
Restructuring maladaptive thought patterns
- thought patternsHabitual cognitive pathways
- anxiety disorderMental illness causing overwhelming fear
- panic disorderRecurrent unexpected fear attacks
chronic pain · mental health treatment · psychological assessment · mindfulness practice · exposure therapy
- overthinkersworriers, overthinkers, analyzers, ruminators, ponderers
catastrophizersminimizers
Things that lessen
downplayers · dismissers · stoics · cool heads · deniers