you have the right to protect your mental space and maintain focus on what matters. Especially in times of crisis, be mindful and careful about who y
“If you want to fly, you have to give
up everything that weighs you down."
Toni Morrison
We’ve all been there: you’re navigating a challenging situation, and instead of calm support, someone nearby starts predicting doom and gloom. Suddenly, what was already hard feels insurmountable.
People who catastrophize — those who exaggerate problems and imagine the worst possible outcomes — can make difficult times even harder.
Here’s why they’re not good for you during a crisis, and how to set healthy boundaries while managing this type of behavior.
Why Catastrophizers Drain Your Energy
Amplifying Stress: Catastrophizers turn molehills into mountains. Instead of helping you focus on solutions, they heighten your anxiety by emphasizing worst-case scenarios.
Disrupting Focus: Crisis situations demand clarity and composure, but catastrophizing introduces noise and distraction, making it harder to stay grounded.
Infectious Negativity: Like a bad cold, catastrophic thinking spreads quickly. Before you know it, you’re questioning your own decisions and imagining everything going wrong.
Energy Vampires: Supporting someone who catastrophizes can drain your emotional reserves, leaving you less equipped to manage your own stress.
How to Set Boundaries with Catastrophizers
Limit Engagement: It’s okay to step back from people who are fueling your anxiety. We must. Politely excuse yourself or redirect conversations to more constructive topics.
Use Clear Communication: Let them know their outlook isn’t helpful: “I need to focus on solutions right now, so let’s talk about what we can do.”
Offer Reassurance, But Don’t Overdo It: While you can acknowledge their feelings, resist the urge to repeatedly soothe their fears. It’s not your job to manage their mindset.
Model Calm Behavior: Show them how you’re staying grounded. Sometimes, leading by example can help shift the tone.
Is your voice calm? Are you taking in regular breaths? Are you maintaining a regular routine that has nothing to do with engaging in worry as a habit? Are you tending to your own health and wellness needs?
Set Time Limits: If you must interact with a catastrophizer, keep conversations brief to protect your own mental space.
Final Thoughts
Catastrophizers can be challenging to deal with, especially during crises when working under their leadership, or if they happen to be a friend, or kin.
Remember, you have the right to protect your mental space and maintain focus on what matters. Especially in times of crisis, be mindful and careful about who you allow near your thoughts.
By setting boundaries and steering conversations toward solutions, you can keep catastrophizing at bay and navigate challenges with greater clarity and confidence.
Stay calm, stay grounded, and keep moving forward—even when others struggle to see the light. Let there be light!
“The function, the very serious function of racism is distraction.
It keeps you from doing your work.
It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being.
Somebody says you have no language and you spend twenty years proving that you do.
Somebody says your head isn’t shaped properly so you have scientists working on the fact that it is.
Somebody says you have no art, so you dredge that up.
Somebody says you have no kingdoms, so you dredge that up.
None of this is necessary.
There will always be one more thing.”
― Toni Morrison
