"Catastrophising" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
Catastrophizing is a psychological term that refers to the tendency to assume the worst possible outcome in a given situation, often to an excessive or irrational degree. It is a cognitive distortion, where one expects the worst and is overly concerned about potential negative consequences, even when there is no actual evidence to support these fears.
Catastrophic refers to something that causes widespread destruction or damage, often on a large scale, and has a very serious and sometimes irreversible impact. It can also describe an event or situation that is considered extremely bad or disastrous, such as a catastrophic accident or a catastrophic failure.