Cognitive Distortions 1
Seeing only the worst possible outcomes of a situation.
What is catastrophizing?
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.
"If I'm not perfectly following my recovery plan, I'm going to relapse."
all or nothing thinking
"My sponsor canceled one meeting. People always let me down. No one can help me."
overgeneralization
Recognizing only the negative aspects of a situation while ignoring the positive.
What is disqualifying the positive
The expectation that a situation will turn out badly without adequate evidence.
Exaggerating the importance of your struggles, problems, and shortcomings.
What is magnification
"I should be completely over my addiction by now. I should be able to resist these cravings."
should statements
"Even though I avoided using at the party, I keep thinking about how tempted I was — not how strong I was."
mental filter
The assumption that emotions reflect the way things really are.
What is emotional reasoning
What is "should" statement
The belief that one is responsible for events outside of their own control.
What is personalization
"My friend relapsed; it must be my fault because I haven't been a good enough support system."
personalization
"I feel like a failure, so I must actually be a failure."
emotional reasoning
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
When you label other people or circumstances as the source of the problem without seeing how you may be contributing.
What is blaming
"My sponsor didn't call me back right away; they must be disappointed in me and don't want to help anymore."
mind reading
"I’m not just someone who used drugs — I’m a hopeless addict."
labeling
Interpreting the meaning of a situation negatively with little to no evidence.
"The group therapy session went badly; I must have said something to make everyone uncomfortable."
personalization
A cognitive distortion in which people reduce themselves or other people to a single - usually negative - characteristic or descriptor.
What is labeling
"People are saying I look healthier since I've been sober, but they're probably just trying to be nice."
discounting the positive
"Everyone's judging me."
mind reading