Download a REBT form, and fill it out. They're mostly very similar, but the ABC or ABCDE is probably what you want.
One reason why this might work when just thinking about it doesn't: consciousness is basically talking to yourself, but internalized. When that's not working right, you can force the process onto a different track by simply vocalizing the things you want to believe. Talking to yourself works.
The cognitive distortion is called "catastrophizing", I think.
I'm afraid of unexpected, strongly negative events occurring to me without warning. Nothing specific, just a generalized fear. That fear is crippling me. Worse, there's a part of me that feels that fear is keeping me safe. "If I let go of that fear," it goes, "I would start doing things and then I wouldn't be safe any more."
I haven't filled out a job application in over a week, because doing so would force me out into the world if i got an interview, and into the world consistently if I got the job.