Types of Cognitive Distortions
"Knowing" what will happen next, usually assume it will be bad. "If I go on that date ,I Will blow it"
What is Fortune Telling?
Assuming we know what other people are thinking or that they know what we are thinking.
"She knows that I was upset- I was curled up in a ball! She didn't do anything- she doesn't care"
What is Mind Reading?
Talking to yourself as if you were talking to a friend- giving yourself compassion
My Mom thinks I am a terrible son
What is mind reading?
Seeing a single event as an indicator of a never-ending pattern. Hint: Usually contain "always" or "never" words
Turning one small problem into a bigger problem
What is Catastrophizing?
Asking people you trust if they agree or disagree with your thoughts/assumptions
What is Survey?
I'm going to have a bad day
What is Fortune Telling?
Seeing things as overly simple. Ignoring the grey areas. "I am either beautiful or ugly"
What is Black and White Thinking (aka All or Nothing thinking)
Holding yourself accountable for things outside of your control
What is Personalization?
Recognizing what distortions your brain automatically uses
What is Identify?
You had a great day, when you get home, you get your credit card bill and think, "this day is ruined!"
What is mental filter?
Telling ourselves that things should be a certain way
"That Shouldn't have happened!" "I should have gotten that job!"
What is Shoulding?
The belief that thoughts, actions, or emotions influence unrelated situations. "If I hadn't hoped something bad would happen to him, he wouldn't have gotten into an accident."
What is Magical Thinking?
Conducting an experiment to see if your assumptions are true or false
What is Test your thoughts?
I didn't text my friend back when they needed me and they used drugs
What is personalizing?
Giving weight to select Information- Usually negative
What is Mental Filter?
The assumption that emotions reflect the way things really are. “I feel like a bad friend, therefore I must be a bad friend.”
Identifying the facts
What is Check the facts?
She should know how to help me by now!
what is shoulding?