Name That Distortion
What distortion involves imagining the worst possible outcome?
Catastrophizing.
True or false: Having an intrusive thought means you secretly want it to happen.
False. Intrusive thoughts are not evidence of intentions or desires.
You worry you offended someone and want to repeatedly ask if they're upset. What's an ERP-consistent response?
Notice the urge, allow uncertainty, and resist repetitive reassurance seeking.
What are the two main components of OCD?
Obsessions and compulsions.
Respond without reassurance: 'I have to know for sure that nothing bad will happen.'
I can accept uncertainty and move forward without a guarantee.
What distortion results in someone only recognize the negative aspects of a situation while ignoring the positive?
Disqualifying the Positive
True or false: Anxiety always means something dangerous is happening.
A: False. Anxiety is a feeling, not proof of danger.
You have an unwanted thought and feel guilty/shame. What could you remind yourself?
Guilt/shame is a feeling, not proof of wrongdoing; you don't need to analyze the thought.
What is the short-term effect of performing a compulsion?
Temporary relief, which can reinforce the OCD cycle.
Q: Identify the distortion: 'I feel contaminated, so I must be contaminated.'
A: Emotional reasoning.
What distortion involves interpreting the meaning of a situation with little to no evidence?
Jumping to Conclusions
True or false: Everyone experiences unwanted thoughts sometimes.
True. Intrusive thoughts are a common human experience.
You feel anxious because you can't remember something perfectly. What skill can you practice?
Tolerance of uncertainty and resisting mental reviewing.
Name one mental compulsion that others may not notice.
Mental reviewing, silent reassurance, counting, neutralizing, or mental checking.
Complete the phrase: 'I can experience anxiety without ____.'
Performing a compulsion, seeking reassurance, or trying to eliminate the feeling.
What distortion occurs when someone assumes their feelings are proof that something is true?
Emotional reasoning.
True or false: You must feel completely certain before making a decision.
False. People can make decisions while tolerating uncertainty.
OCD tells you to solve an intrusive thought immediately. What's another option?
Allow the thought to remain unresolved and return attention to a valued activity.
What does ERP stand for?
Exposure and Response Prevention.
Explain the difference between a helpful response and a mental compulsion when dealing with intrusive thoughts.
A helpful response allows uncertainty and disengagement; a mental compulsion attempts to obtain certainty, neutralize distress, or prove the thought wrong.
What distortion involves believing you're responsible for preventing every possible negative outcome?
Personalization
True or false: Mentally reviewing an event repeatedly can be a compulsion.
True, when used to obtain certainty or relief.
You're experiencing an intrusive thought that feels extremely urgent. You've already tried reasoning with it, but the anxiety keeps increasing. Your OCD tells you that you must figure it out before moving on. What would you do?
Recognize the urge to solve the thought as part of the OCD cycle, allow the uncertainty and discomfort to be present, resist mental compulsions or reassurance-seeking, and redirect attention toward a meaningful activity without waiting for the anxiety to disappear.
Why can reassurance seeking maintain OCD over time?
It reinforces the idea that uncertainty must be resolved before moving forward.
Explain how a cognitive distortion can lead to a compulsion, and describe how ERP can help break that cycle.
A distorted interpretation can increase anxiety and urgency, leading to compulsions that provide temporary relief. ERP helps patients face triggers while resisting compulsions, building tolerance for uncertainty and distress.