Catastrophizing usually comes in a
litany of steps that start from a mundane setback all the way to absolute existential hoplessness. For instance:
1. Oh no, I'm going to be late for work.
2. My boss is going to be angry.
3. I'm going to lose my job.
4. I'm not going to be able to get another one.
5. I'm going to be unemployed forever.
6. My family will starve.
7. Oh God,
we're all going to die!!!
Each step in the sequence is arguably plausible, but
the snowball effect takes it into the realms of absurdity after a while.