Definitions
Everything is viewed as either one extreme or the other; No middle ground; No "shades of gray"
What is Extreme Thinking, All-Or-Nothing Thinking (Black and White thinking can be accepted too)?
What is Magnification?
Looking at only one small piece of what happened
What is Selective Focus?
What month of the year has 28 days?
All of them!
True or False: Cognitive distortions can be corrected over time.
True!
A thinking distortion that says because something happened once or twice, it must ALWAYS be true. Clue: think stereotyping or prejudice
What is Overgeneralization?
If you're not with me, you're against me!"
What is extreme thinking (all or nothing thinking)?
Stubborn, "I know what's right" thinking; my way or the highway thinking
What is Concrete Thinking?
What is always in front of you but can't be seen?
The future!
True or False: To some degree, everyone uses thinking distortions.
True
A thinking distortion that says everything that happens around you is always all about you, even when there is no real connection to you.
What is Personalization?
"It's only a DUI"
What is Minimization?
What is emotional reasoning?
What is an envelope?
Take away the power of cognitive distortions by first ________ them.
What is Identifying?
Either taking the event out of context and blowing it out of proportion or downplaying the event's impact or significance.
What is Magnifying/Minimizing?
Your child has an accident, and you blame yourself for allowing them to go to that party.
What is Personalization?
Thinking we are never at fault or responsible for our behavior
What is actor versus observer?
What building has the most stories?
A library!
Having assumptions about ourselves, others, and life in general that work against you?
What is dysfunctional thinking or thinking distortions?
When we think we know where things are headed and make a snap decision with little reason or no evidence
What is Jumping to Conclusions?
You see your partner looking serious after work and you assume they might be losing interest in you.
What is mind-reading (jumping to conclusions)?
Blowing things out of proportion; a tendency to expect the worst to happen without considering other possibilities.
What is Catastrophizing?
Riddle: I have branches, but no fruit, trunk or leaves. What am I?
What is a Bank?
Reframe: I have had a headache for two days. I must have a brain tumor.
What is... "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." "I might be dehydrated"