Cognitive Distortions
You see things in black and white categories If a situation falls short of perfect, you see it as a total failure.
What is All or Nothing Thinking
You come into school one morning and your homeroom teacher tells you, you are needed at the front office. You began to panic and think: "Is someone mad at me? What do they want to talk to me about? I am sure I'm getting in trouble! Then I won't be able to get into college or get a good job!"
What is Catastrophizing
Recognizing only the negative aspects of a situation while ignoring the positive.
What is Discounting the Positives
What are ANTs?
What are Automatic Negative Thoughts
I will never find a place to live.
It is going to be hard to find a place to live. I need to ask for help. I probably won't find the perfect place at first.
You see a single negative event as a neverending pattern of defeat by using words such as ‘always’ or “never” when you think about it.
What is Overgeneralization
When you're on a diet and eat a spoonful of ice cream, but tell yourself ‘I’ve blown my diet completely.’
What is All or Nothing Thinking
When people assume they know what others are thinking.
What is Mind Reading
This is the belief that everything must be perfect all the time.
What is Perfectionism
It won't ever change, why even bother?
It is frustrating how hard it is to get where I want to go.
You exaggerate the importance of your problems and shortcomings
What is Magnification
Your team votes for you to be the new captain! You think "It doesn't mean anything, it was just luck."
What is Discounting the Positives.
You assume that your negative emotions necessarily reflect the way things really are.
What is Emotional Reasoning
Why is it important to understand what types of Cognitive Distortions you experience the most?
What is because it allows you to recognize, identify and challenge those specific ANTs easier.
I can't afford it, but I still should give my friend money because he asked me for it.
"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."
When you jump to the worse case scenario of what could happen in a situation.
What is Catastrophizing
You think, "I feel anxious about this presentation; therefore, it will go badly." This is an example of what distortion?
What is Emotional Reasoning
The expectation that a situation will turn out badly without adequate evidence.
What is Fortune Telling
What are the 3 parts of the Cognitive Triangle?
Bonus 100 points if you can name the 4th part!
What is Situation>Thoughts>Emotions>Behaviors
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"
You minimize the importance of your desirable qualities.
What is Minimization
Chad has a crush on this girl that he sees everyday at school. He decides that he won't speak to her or ask her out on a date because "She probably thinks I'm a freak. She would never date someone like me".
Extra 100 points if you can name 2!
What is Mind Reading and Fortune Telling
You reduce yourself or other people to a single, usually negative, characteristic or descriptor
What is Labeling
A method of inquiry that seeks to explore complex ideas, concepts, and beliefs by asking questions that challenge assumptions, clarify meaning, and reveal underlying principles
What is Socratic Questioning
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."