Catathymic Thinking

Catathymic Thinking: What is it and how does it work?

Catathymic thinking is a concept that describes a state of mind when we are immersed in our thoughts and feelings. The term comes from the Greek words "katathymeo", which means "to be discouraged, to become despondent", and "katathymios", which means "to be in the soul, in the thoughts."

Catathymic thinking was proposed in the 1950s by German psychiatrist Hans Kaiser, who observed that people can become preoccupied with their thoughts and feelings when they are under psychological tension or stress. He called this state "Mayer catathymic thinking" or "m. catathymic."

Catathymic thinking is a process in which we dive into our thoughts and feelings, exploring them more deeply. This can happen in both a conscious and unconscious state. When we are in a state of catathic thinking, we may discover connections between our thoughts and feelings that we had not noticed before.

Some researchers believe that catathymic thinking may be useful for psychotherapy because it helps people understand their emotions and thoughts, which can lead to improved mental health.

However, catathymic thinking can also be negative, especially if it is accompanied by repetitive negative thoughts and feelings. This can lead to a deterioration in a person's mental state, so it is important to learn how to manage your thoughts and feelings to avoid negative consequences.

In general, catathymic thinking is an important process that gives us the opportunity to better understand ourselves and our emotions. If we learn to use it correctly, it can lead to improvements in our lives and mental health.



Catathymic thinking is one of the types of thinking that is used in psychology to describe the process of human information processing. This type of thinking is associated with a person’s emotional state and his reaction to various situations.

Catathymic thinking is one of the main types of thinking used in psychotherapy. It is based on the fact that a person perceives information through his emotions and feelings. During the process of catathymic thinking, a person may experience various emotions, such as joy, sadness, fear or anger. These emotions can influence how a person perceives information and how they respond to it.

In psychology, katathymic thinking is used to help people better understand and manage their emotions. For example, if a person has a fear of public speaking, catathymic thinking can help him understand what exactly is causing this fear and how he can reduce it.

Catathymic thinking can also be used to improve communication skills. For example, if a person has problems communicating with other people, catathymic thinking can help him better understand what exactly is preventing him from communicating effectively.

However, it should be noted that catathic thinking is not a universal method for all people. Each person has his own individual characteristics and needs, so the approach to catathymic thinking should be individual and take into account these characteristics.