Jumps to the worst case
A delayed reply from the client means the contract is gone, the quarter is lost, and layoffs are coming.
Rule out first
Genuine risk in the situation. A past where worst cases really happened. A job that requires risk planning.
What could explain it
Anticipation: They imagine the worst, plan for it, then let it go; the planning is useful.
Catastrophising: One bad outcome leads to a chain of worse ones, and they get stuck at the end of the chain.
Generalised anxiety: Worst-casing across life (health, money, family), with physical tension and poor sleep.
Vulnerability to harm or illness schema: They believe disaster is around the corner, especially illness or attack, and take excessive precautions.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): The worst case they imagine mirrors something that happened; reminders set it off.
A next move
Ask what they'd do if the worst happened. A plan means anticipation; a spiral means catastrophising; a memory means trauma.
If it’s you
Am I planning for this, or rehearsing it?