psychologist Albert Ellis coined the term awfulizing
to refer to a distortion of thinking

when we awfulize, an event or situation is thought
of in overly negative terms

it's a kind of negative exaggeration where, for exam-
ple, a minor setback is seen as a major catastrophe

awfulizing can set into motion a chain of self-fulfilling
thoughts, feelings and actions;

the mere expectation that things will get worse
will cause them to get worse

take a look below at the fabled, Henny Penny

one day while peacefully eating lunch in the shade
of a large oak, Henny Penny was struck on the head
by a falling acorn;

her conclusion -




Henny is awfulizing, misinterpreting a situation in
terms so negative that her view bears little resem-
blance to reality

she needs a friend, a Goosey Loosey or a Turkey
Lurkey, to tell her to chill out, look around (and up)
and consider another view of her situation