Cognitive Distortions1
I can do no wrong.
All or nothing thinking.
Interpreting the thoughts and beliefs of others without adequate evidence.
What is mind reading
When your mind decreases the importance of your desirable qualities and positive experiences.
What is minimizing.
The cop only pulled me over because he knew it was me.
Personalization
It was only one drink.
Minimizing
Recognizing only the negative aspects of a situation while ignoring the positive.
disqualifying the positive
The expectation that a situation will turn out badly without adequate evidence.
What is fortune telling
Exaggerating the importance of your struggles, problems, and shortcomings.
What is magnification
Everybody steals.
Overgeneralization.
It was only my 2nd DUI.
Minimizing
The assumption that emotions reflect the way things really are.
What is emotional reasoning
Spending time with significant other and they seem distracted so it must be about you
Mind Reading
The belief that one is responsible for events outside of their own control.
What is personalization
"It's my partner's fault we're having problems. They are always against me and trying to hurt me"
Blaming
I walked in the room and everyone stopped talking, they must have been talking about me.
Personalization
You see things in only two categories and think in absolute ways. If a situation falls short of perfect, you see it as a total failure.
What is all-or-nothing thinking (black-or-white)
Seeing a single or few negative events as a never ending pattern of defeat, or making broad and negative interpretations from the event(s).
What is overgeneralizing
Nobody cares about me
overgeneralization
"He's just a jerk"
labeling
I felt upset by my dog getting hit by a car so I relapsed.
emotional reasoning.
2 types of jumping to conclusions
You feel lonely because you are currently by yourself, therefore no one loves you or wants to be around you
emotional reasoning
No one ever helps me out
overgeneralization
I was late to work yesterday, I might as well just not go in today at all.
magnification
I got angry, that's why I threw my phone and broke it.
Emotional reasoning.