Distorted Thinking & Shame
: What is mind-reading?
“Everyone thinks I’m a failure.”
What is mindfulness?
Observing emotions without judging them.
What is minimization?
It wasn’t that bad.”
What is catastrophizing?
“I relapsed, so I’ll never recover.”
: What is affect labeling?
Naming a feeling reduces its intensity.
What is projection?
Blaming others for relapse.
What is labeling or over-identification?
“I’m an addict, so I’m broken forever.”
What is distress tolerance?
Riding out cravings without acting on them.
What is rationalization?
Justifying use with logic.
What is toxic shame?
Believing mistakes define identity.
Scenario:
A client feels overwhelming guilt after hurting family members.
Question: What is healthy guilt response?
Processing guilt through repair instead of avoidance.
What is emotional avoidance?
Avoiding painful feelings by staying busy.
Scenario:
A client says, “If people knew what I’ve done, they wouldn’t want me around.”
Question: What belief is driving this statement?
: This reflects core shame beliefs about worthiness.
What reduces shame most effectively?
The opposite of shame is connection.
Scenario:
A client laughs while talking about overdosing.
What is a defense mechanism protecting from shame?
Humor used as emotional deflection.