Cognitive Distortions
This cognitive distortion involves thinking of situations in extremes — all good or all bad.
What is black-and-white thinking (or all-or-nothing thinking)?
What star is at the center of our solar system?
What is the Sun?
This type of coping skill helps calm the body and mind by focusing on the present moment.
What is mindfulness?
This yellow animated character lives in a pineapple under the sea.
Who is SpongeBob SquarePants?
In recovery, this is the term for something that reminds you of using or tempts you to return to old behavior.
What is a trigger?
When someone assumes they know what others are thinking — especially that others view them negatively — they're doing this.
What is mind reading?
This is the closest planet to the sun.
What is Mercury?
Writing down your thoughts and feelings to help process emotions is called this.
What is journaling?
This TV dad from The Simpsons works at a nuclear power plant and loves donuts.
Who is Homer Simpson?
This is a helpful strategy where you avoid places, people, or situations that could lead to relapse.
What is avoidance (or setting boundaries)?
This distortion involves attaching sweeping negative labels to yourself or others based on a single event or behavior.
What is labeling?
Which planet in our solar system is best known for its ring system?
What is Saturn?
This creative coping skill involves using art, coloring, or doodling to express emotions without words.
What is art (or art therapy, creative expression)?
From Stranger Things, this character is known for her psychokinetic powers and a shaved head in Season 1.
Who is Eleven?
Talking to this type of person—a sponsor, therapist, or trusted friend—can help keep you accountable and supported.
What is a support system?
This distortion involves predicting that things will turn out badly, even without evidence.
What is catastrophizing (or fortune telling)?
What is the largest planet in the solar system?
What is Jupiter?
This DBT skill uses your five senses to bring your attention back to the moment and reduce overwhelm.
What is grounding (or the 5-4-3-2-1 technique)?
In the 1990s, this TV character’s layered hairstyle became a global trend, famously nicknamed after her.
Who is Rachel Green?
This simple daily habit—like getting enough sleep or eating well—helps protect against relapse.
What is self-care?
This distortion means focusing only on the negatives of a situation and filtering out the positives.
What is mental filtering?
These two planets do not have moons.
What are Mercury and Venus?
This coping strategy involves changing how you think about a situation in order to feel better about it.
What is cognitive reframing (or reframing)?
This animated TV character lives in Quahog, Rhode Island, has a talking dog named Brian, and often fights a giant chicken.
Who is Peter Griffin?
When you start to feel cravings or urges, this is the term for the moment you decide whether to use or not.
What is a high-risk moment?