Which cognitive distortions do you do? I used one in my previous post. I didn’t see it when I was thinking and typing. I saw it when I went back to the post later. Oooops.
Cognitive distortions just sort of slip into our thinking process, like little ninjas, insidiously disrupting the clarity and accuracy of our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs.
Cognitive distortions impact our perceptions and decision-making.
Cognitive distortions are common thought patterns that can lead to negative emotions, behaviors, outcomes.
Here are some common cognitive distortions:
1. All-or-Nothing Thinking (Black-and-White Thinking): Seeing situations as either completely positive or negative, with no gray areas.
2. Overgeneralization: Drawing broad conclusions based on one or a few isolated events.
3. Mental Filtering: Focusing only on negative information while ignoring positive aspects.
4. Discounting the Positive: Minimizing or dismissing positive experiences.
5. Magnification and Minimization: Exaggerating the importance of negative events or minimizing the significance of positive ones.
6. Personalization: Taking responsibility for events that are not within one's control or blaming oneself for things that others did.
7. Catastrophizing: Assuming the worst possible outcome in every situation.
8. Jumping to Conclusions: Making assumptions about others' thoughts or intentions without sufficient evidence.
9. Emotional Reasoning: Using emotions as the basis for making decisions or forming beliefs.
10. Should and Must Statements: Imposing rigid rules and expectations on oneself or others, leading to guilt and anxiety.
11. Labeling: Assigning negative labels to oneself or others, such as "loser" or "failure."
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