COGNITIVE DISTORTION
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“They must think im terrible because i struggle with addiction”
Mind-reading
“I messed up today, so the whole week is ruined.”
All-or-nothing thinking
“They didn’t text me back, they must be mad at me.”
Mind reading
“I always mess things up.”
Overgeneralization
“I got one thing wrong, so I did terrible.”
Mental filtering
Client receives 5 compliments and 1 criticism and only focuses on the criticism.
Mental Filtering
“My partner is quiet, so they’re definitely upset with me.”
Mind reading
“I should be over this by now.”
Should statements
“Something bad is going to happen, I can feel it.”
Catastrophizing
“I deserve this”
Just-World Thinking
Client says: “If I’m not perfect in recovery, I’m failing.”
👉 Distortion + reframe
Answer: All-or-nothing thinking
Reframe: Progress matters more than perfection
Client says: “They didn’t invite me, so they don’t like me.”
👉 Distortion + challenge
Answer: Mind reading
Challenge: I don’t actually know their reason
Client says: “I messed up before, so I’ll always mess up.”
👉 Distortion + reframe
Answer: Overgeneralization
Reframe: One mistake doesn’t define my future
Client says: “Everything is going to fall apart if I stay here.”
👉 Distortion + challenge
Answer: Catastrophizing
Reframe: I don’t have evidence everything will fall apart
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KEIVONNA
Client says: “If I stay in treatment, I’ll lose everything.”
👉 Distortion + what emotion is underneath?
Answer: Catastrophizing
Underlying: Fear / anxiety
Client says: “I’m a bad person because of what I did.”
👉 Distortion + deeper issue
Answer: Labeling
Underlying: Shame
Client says: “They looked at me weird, they’re judging me.”
👉 Distortion + what’s missing?
Answer: Mind reading
Missing: Evidence
Client says: “I should have handled that better.”
👉 Distortion + risk if unchallenged
Answer: Should statements
Risk: Guilt, shame, pressure
Client says: “Nothing good ever happens to me.”
👉 Distortion + pattern
Answer: Overgeneralization
Pattern: Negative thinking bias
Client says:
“I relapsed, I’m a failure, and I’ll never get better.”
👉 Name TWO distortions
Client says:
“They didn’t answer me, they’re mad, I messed everything up.”
👉 Name TWO distortions
Client says:
“If I feel this anxious, something must be wrong and I need to leave.”
👉 Distortion + behavior risk
Client says:
“I’ve failed before, so there’s no point in trying now.”
👉 Distortion + recovery impact
Client says:
“I should be better, I’m not where I should be, so I’m not doing good.”
👉 Name TWO distortions