The mistake many make when anxiety rises – and how to avoid it

The article explains catastrophizing – the tendency to imagine worst-case scenarios during anxiety – and offers practical tools for coping: mindfulness, deep breathing, setting a 'worry time' and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

The article discusses catastrophizing, a perceptual distortion in which everyday situations take on disproportionate dimensions, such as imagining that a partner's lack of response means a disaster has occurred. It offers exercises for immediate relief: mindfulness and deep breathing, and cites a study in Acta Psychologica that found mindfulness improves emotional regulation and reduces anxiety. Another technique is setting a daily designated 'worry time' to postpone anxious thoughts. The article emphasizes the importance of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as an effective tool for identifying and dismantling irrational thought patterns, and recommends sharing thoughts with a professional or a close person to break the cycle of isolation.

The mistake many make when anxiety rises – and how to avoid it