Understanding Cognitive Symptoms of Anxiety: Thoughts & Behaviors

Cognitive Symptoms of Anxiety

• Catastrophizing: Expecting worst outcomes without evidence (e.g., imagining total failure before a presentation).
• Negative Self-Talk: Internal criticism (e.g., "I'm not good enough for this job").
• Rumination: Repetitive negative thoughts about past events.
• Difficulty Concentrating: Racing anxious thoughts impair focus.
• Forgetfulness: Anxiety impairs memory encoding/retrieval.
• Decision-Making Difficulties: Flooded negative thoughts hinder weighing options.