Name That Distortion
The assumption that emotions reflect the way things really are.
What is Emotional Reasoning?
Mr. A's wife hasn't spoken to him since she got home from work. Mr. A thinks "she doesn't want to talk to me. She probably resents me and wants a divorce".
What is mind reading?
Give an example of magnification and minimization.
(exaggerated or minimized importance of event).
Counteract the distorted thought "I felt awkward during my job interview. I am always awkward".
(correct the "I am always awkward" part)
The expectation that a situation will turn out badly without adequate evidence.
What is fortune telling?
Ms. S got back her work evaluation that rated her a 4.5/5. She is upset that she is "slacking" because she is .5 points behind from a perfect review.
What is disqualifying the positive?
Give an example of a "should" statement distortion.
(belief things should be a certain way. "I should always be perfect")
Counteract the distorted thought "if I hadn't hoped something bad would happen to him, he wouldn't have gotten into an accident".
(separate thought from event).
The belief that thoughts, actions, or emotions influence unrelated situations.
What is magical thinking?
Mr. T got an order wrong at his job. He thinks to himself "I felt like an idiot for getting that order wrong. I'm always messing up".
What is overgeneralization? or All-or-nothing thinking?
Give an example of magical thinking.
(belief that thoughts, actions, emotions influence unrelated situations).
Counteract distorted statement "I'll never get off probation".
(correct never)
Seeing only the worst possible outcomes of a situation.
What is catastrophizing?
Mrs. M's husband hasn't answered the phone when she's called. Her immediate thought is "a semi-truck must have hit him and he's not going to make it".
What is catastrophizing?
Give an example of all-or-nothing thinking.
(thinking in absolutes such as "always, never, every")
Counteract statement "I got promoted at my job, but that doesn't matter much because I'm not doing as well in other areas of life, I'm still a failure".
(don't minimize promotion, challenge thought of being a failure).
The belief that things should be a certain way.
What is "should" statement?
Mr. Q notices his daughter coming home from school upset and not wanting to talk, going into her room and slamming the door. He thinks to himself "She's upset. It must have been because I did something this morning that upset her."
What is personalization?
Give an example of emotional reasoning.
(assumption that emotions reflect the way things really are).
Counteract the statement "Corrective Thinking is 12 classes?! I'm going to be in here forever."
(challenge "forever" statement)