Thinking Errors 1
When we believe everything is only “good” or “bad”
Black or White Thinking
When we try to make things seem smaller than they really are
Minimizing
This thinking error is used to make people feel sorry for us. Example: “I would not have hurt him if I had not have been hurt myself.”
Victim Stance
Skills for recovery that help with ability to relax and manage stress and the ability to change negative thinking.
Coping Skills
“I think I shouldn’t have to do UAs because I just drank and I never did drugs.”
Calling your own shots/Entitlement
When we believe we know what other people think or feel
Mind Reading/Assuming
A thinking error used so that people won’t expect us to do what is required or expected. This attitude will ultimately lead to disappointment, failure, a loss of control, or a loss of freedom.
"I can’t" attitude
When a person does not think of how their actions influence others, except in the most obvious physical sense. The person has no concept of emotionally hurting others or causing great mental pain.
Lack of empathy/apathy
A relaxation technique
Meditation/progressive relaxation/deep breathing
“I haven’t met her yet but I know that the counselor they assigned me doesn’t know anything and can’t help me”
Contempt prior to investigation
When a person thinks that everything is “the end of the world”
Catastrophizing
When a person tries to change the subject when they are confronted with facts about their behavior.
Sidetracking/hop-over/changing the subject
We use this thinking error by trying to exert our power over others through insisting that things be done our way or not at all.
“All or Nothing” thinking/"My way or no way"/Power and control
The quality of being thankful; a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
Gratitude
“I can have one drink and be fine. Everyone else is wrong about what I can and cannot handle”
Calling your own shots
“Pointing the finger” to find an excuse not to solve the problem
Blaming
A thinking error that allows us to explain the reason for things. We do not want to recognize that things are the way they are because of us, so we find a way to explain
Justification
This thinking error allows us to ridicule other people.
Making fools of/Emotional Abuse
A person is making this thinking error when they feel that they are "above the law"
Entitlement
“I am sober so I should be able to be done with this program and the court should just leave me alone”
Wanting immediate results
When we tell the truth in such a way that the facts help us not to take responsibility for our actions or behavior
Fact Stacking/Intellectualizing
When people are angry or hostile and will be quietly keeping record of others mistakes, rather than focusing on the issue at hand.
Keeping Score
Being silent to enjoy watching the frustration grow within others.
Power through silence
Also known as, “authority conflict,” this thinking error is when we want all the power and wish to be right no matter what. We enjoy arguing, fighting for the sake of arguing, and fighting with others. We get a high from dominating other people. We do not care that we have used other people to get this feeling; we believe that this is our right. We disallow others to learn due to the disruption this thinking error causes.
Powerplay
“My friends tell me I am mean and angry when I drink, but they don’t know anything and drink just as much as me.”
Inability to hear what others are saying and Blaming