Ep. 64 Stop Assuming the Worst: Breaking the Catastrophizing Cycle

The Mental Weight Room - A Podcast for Athletes, Parents of Athletes and Coaches · Mar 18, 2026 · 10m

Catastrophizing is one of the most common cognitive distortions in athletes—and one of the biggest killers of confidence, focus, and performance.

In this episode, mental performance coach Antoinette Datoc explains how catastrophizing causes athletes to assume the worst, turning small mistakes into imagined disasters. This pattern increases anxiety, creates hesitation, and leads to poor performance under pressure.

If you’ve ever thought:

• “What if I mess this up?”

• “What if I get hurt?”

• “What if everything falls apart?”

…you’ve experienced catastrophizing.

You’ll learn:

• What…