Thinking Traps

Name the Thinking Trap

100

You see things as all good or all bad with no gray area in between.

What is All of Nothing Thinking?

200

This is when we use words like "always," "never," or "everybody" to draw a conclusion based on one example.

What is All or Nothing Thinking?

300

This happens when we replay a negative event.

What is Negative Filter?

400

This is when we assume we know what other people are thinking, or why they are doing something, without having any evidence.

What is Mind Reading?

500

This is when we pick out one negative detail in a situation and dwell on it exclusively.

Negative Filter

Name the Thinking Trap 2

100

A feeling of discomfort, worry, sadness, or anxiety that may occur if a boundary is crossed while interacting with a person online.

What is Red flag feeling ?

200

This is when you act as if you already know what will happen in the future.

What is Fortune Telling?

300

This is when we see ourselves as the cause of negative events that we are not responsible for.

What is Personalization

400

Anxiety-provoking thoughts that are automatically triggered in a person by a particular situation

Automatic Negative Thoughts

500

Features or aspects of a device or app that are intended to hook the user into frequent use  

Addictive design

Examples 1

100

She broke up with me last night. Now I'll never meet anyone.

What is All-or-Nothing Thinking

200

She did not say anything about my new haircut. She must think it is ugly!

What is Mind Reading

300

She is moving to a new apartment because she does not like having me as a neighbor.

What is personalization

400

A sudden knot in your stomach or tightness in your chest when you see something your friend posted. 

What is a red-flag feeling?

500

I am stupid and cannot contribute anything to anyone.

What is Labeling?

Ways to Rethink Traps

100

"I will never be happy"

Examples: "I may be unhappy now but that will pass." "I have been happy before and I will be happy again."

200

I should give my friend money because he asked me for it.

Examples: "I wish I could loan him money but I cannot afford it." "I want to give my friend money because it makes me feel good and I have enough to spare."

300

He didn't say Hi to me this morning so he must be mad at me for something I did.

"There are many reasons why he did not say Hi to me. It's probably not personal." "I will check in with him later and make sure everything is ok"

400

I know I am going to have a panic attack when I go the party tomorrow so I should just cancel my plans now.

"I can practice my coping skills if I start to feel anxious and I can leave the party if I start to panic. But I should at least give it a try." "I have been to these types of parties before and I have never had a panic attack. I will probably be fine."

500

I have had a headache for two days. I must have a brain tumor.

"Headaches are common and happen occasionally. There is no need to worry." "If my headache doesn't go away in a day I will make an appointment with my PCP to check it out." "I am under a lot of stress and my body is probably telling me I need to take it easy."

Examples 2

100

If I don't get an A on this test, I'm a complete failure.

What is All or Nothing thinking?

200

He didn't invite me to the party, so he must not like me anymore

What is Mind Reading?

300

What’s the point? I know I am going to do badly in this interview. I’ll never get a job.

What is Fortune Telling Thinking?

400

These are well-learned ways of thinking about situations that are instantaneous and reflect our underlying beliefs about the world.

What are automatic thoughts

500

Posting highly emotional rants, deeply personal family conflicts, or vulnerable medical updates on public social media platforms.

What is oversharing?