Casting forward to the imagined worst-case scenario.
Papañca is the casting forward of the mind to the imagined worst-case scenario. It doesn’t really do you any good, and adds stress. This is a specific type of Anticipatory Anxiety. One that you of probably stop doing.
Example
- If I don’t get this assignment in on time, I’ll get fired. Since I’m fired then I’ll lose all my money, lose the house. My wife will leave me.