Catastrophic Thinking: Alcohol Isn’t Your Great Escape
Cassie’s heart began to race. “Am I dying?” she thought. “What if I’m having a heart attack?”
Jeff’s wife was running late. He worried there had been a terrible car accident. Jeff pictured his wife lying all alone in a ditch somewhere, broken and bleeding.
Molly’s daughter loved to play softball. It was less fun for Molly. Before every game, she imagined all the injuries her daughter could suffer, and she couldn’t relax until the final inning was over.
Does this sound familiar? Does your brain go down similar disastrous paths? Cassie, Jeff, and Molly are catastrophic thinkers. If your thought patterns are similar, you might be, too. And this means that you’re at greater risk of abusing alcohol.
The Cost of Catastrophe
Catastrophic thinking is “ruminating about irrational worst-case outcomes.” It can increase anxiety and affect the way you react (or freeze you into inaction).
While creative writers may value an active imagination, for most of us, catastrophic imaginings aren’t helpful.
Frequently playing out the worst-case scenarios of any given situation causes anxiety. Left unchecked, this can result in a variety of mental health issues such as panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, and social anxiety.
To cope with anxiety disorders, many turn to substance abuse. In fact, about 20% of Americans with an anxiety or mood disorder also have an alcohol or substance abuse disorder. What they don’t know, however, is that substances actually make the anxiety worse, trapping people in a constant and frightening cycle of catastrophe. Treatment that includes therapy for underlying psychiatric issues may help you recover from your addiction.
Escaping Catastrophe
To avoid this cycle, catastrophic thinkers must take 3 steps:
- Step #1: Recognize it. If your thinking is catastrophic, you must first identify it. Label the thinking what it truly is—an irrational worst-case scenario.
- Step #2: Rethink it. Instead of dreaming up more disasters, identify best-case possibilities. Consider whether or not these are more likely outcomes. (Jeff’s wife is stuck in traffic… her meeting ran long… she didn’t answer the phone because she’s driving… this has happened multiple times before… the weather is sunny and clear, so the roads aren’t treacherous… etc.)
- Step #3: Remove it. Don’t discount your catastrophic thinking. It’s a dangerous road to travel, leading nowhere good. If you are a catastrophic thinker, it’s important to deal with it. You might need professional help to handle these thoughts. They may indicate other issues that a counselor can help you work through. If you’re trying to stay on a path of alcohol treatment and sobriety, it’s especially significant. For successful recovery, you need to learn to manage these thoughts and develop healthier patterns of thinking.
Break the Cycle
Training yourself out of catastrophic thinking can be challenging, especially when alcohol or substance misuse is involved. If you or a loved one are struggling, know that you are not alone. Get started on your recovery right now with our free rehab locator tool, where you can find addiction treatment facilities that take insurance, inpatient rehabs, outpatient rehab programs, and much more.