Thinking Errors 1
Sometimes called black or white thinking
If I am not perfect, I have failed
All or Nothing Thinking
Seeing a pattern based upon a single event, or being overly broad in the conclusions we draw
Nothing good ever happens
Overgeneralizing
The individual pretends it didn't happen, and might even try to fool himself into thinking it didn't happen
We often have these about our substance use
Denial
Only paying attention to certain types of evidence
Noticing out failures but not seeing our successes
Mental Filter
Discounting the good things that have happened or that you have done for some reason or another
Well, that doesn't count
Disqualifying the positive
The individual finds reasons, explanations, and excuses for what they did
I used because I was having a bad day
Rationalization
Imagining we know what others are thinking or predicting the future
Jumping to Conclusions
Blowing things out of proportion, or inappropriately shrinking something to make it seem less important
Magnification/Catastrophizing/Minimization
The individual finds reasons to explain the correctness of what he did, as though it was okay
I used because everyone else was
Justification
Assuming that because we feel a certain way we must think it is true
I feel embarrassed so I must be an idiot
Emotional Reasoning
Using critical words like should, must, or ought can make us feel guilty, or like we have already failed
Should statements
The individual avoids thinking about emotionally difficult subjects because they feel overwhelmed
Avoidance
Assigning labels to ourselves or other people
I'm a loser
Labeling
Blaming yourself or taking responsibility for something that wasn't your fault
Personalization
The individual feels as though they have been wronged and is allowed to get thi