Show:
Negative Thinking Traps
Negative Thinking Traps 2
Negative Thinking Traps 3
Change to Helpful Thoughts 1
Change to Helpful Thoughts 2
100

You forget to turn in an assignment, you think you're going to flunk out of school and never get into the college you want.

What is CATASTROPHIZING

100
You label yourself negatively. i.e I made a mistake so I'm a failure. I'm an idiot.
What is LABELING
100

I may have used everyday, but I never got caught. 

What is minimizing?

100

I'm a bad person.

What is I made a mistake. I'm human.

100
The world is a horrible place
What is Sure bad things happen sometimes. But so do good things.
200

We lost the championship because of the goalie"

What is BLAMING

200
You make assumptions about what others are thinking. i.e I didn't get the job because I'm too young.
What is MIND READING
200

"Nothing ever goes right"

Mental Filtering

200

I've hurt a lot of people in my addiction

I was really sick and couldn't make good decisions. Now that I'm sober, I can think more clearly and make better choices.

200
My pants were ruined in the wash and my cat peed on my homework. Life sucks!
What is Wow today didn't go so well. There's always tomorrow.
300

You notice all the negatives but fail to notice the positives.

What is MENTAL FILTERING/NEGATIVITY BIAS

300
Things are either good or bad, safe or dangerous. No middle ground. If I'm not perfect, then I'm a failure.
What is BLACK AND WHITE THINKING/ALL OR NOTHING THINKING
300
'I'm always late"
What is Minimizing/Discounting
300
I'm such a failure.
What is Wow I messed up. I'll try to do better next time.
300
No one likes me.
What is It feels like no one likes me right now but I know I have some people who care about me.
400

 I'm excited when my best friend gets a "B", but I must get straight A's

Should Statements
400
You maximize your failures and minimize your successes. You discount positive events and allow negative events to count more.
What is MINIMIZING/DISCOUNTING
400
"I'll never graduate high school"
What is Overgeneralizing
400
I failed my in car exam. I'll never drive.
What is I didn't do so well today. It happens. I'll just practice some more.
400
Things will never get better.
What is "Things suck right now. But nothing bad lasts forever.
500

"My teacher gave me a bad grade. He must hate me."  What type of thinking is that?

Jumping to conclusions


500
You focus on the other person as the source of the problem, when you may have had some part in it. You expect the other person to change or fix things when there are things you could do.
What is BLAMING
500

Change this to a positive: "I never should have told them how I feel"

 "At least they know how I feel now. I'm glad I got that off my chest.

500

I'm responsible for my friend. If she does something to hurt herself, it's my fault.

The only person I am responsible for is me. I can make the best decisions I can and ask an adult for help when if I need to and that's okay.

500
I should have never come to this party.
What is This isn't the best time ever but I'm glad I was brave enough to do something that makes me feel uncomfortable.