Name that Distortion
What's the Distortion?
You text a friend, and they don’t reply for an hour. You assume they hate you.
Mind Reading
“If I’m not the best, I’m a total loser.”
All-or-Nothing Thinking + Labeling
Provide an example of "Should/Must"
Multiple answers!
I should be doing my homework
I should be a better friend
Etc.
“I failed my quiz, so I’m stupid.”
Multiple Answers!
“I didn’t do well this time, but I can study and try again.”
True or False: Everyone has unhelpful thinking styles sometimes.
True
What's the Distortion?
You believe you must be perfect or else people won’t like you.
“I failed one test, so I’ll fail every class, and my life is basically over.”
Overgeneralization + Catastrophizing
Provide an example of "Catastrophizing"
Multiple Answers!
I got a C so I'll never get a job in the future.
I had a fight with my best friend so I'm going to be alone forever.
Etc.
“Nobody will ever like me.”
Multiple Answers
Flip: “Not everyone has to like me, but I can build real friendships.”
True or False: “Mind Reading” means you can actually read someone’s thoughts.
False.
What is Mind Reading?
What's the Distortion?
You ignore all the positive feedback and focus only on the one negative comment.
Mental Filter/Discounting the Positive
“My friend didn’t laugh at my joke—she must secretly hate me, and I’ll never have friends again.”
Mind Reading + Catastrophizing
Provide an example of "Fortune Telling"
Multiple Answers!
This party is going to be awful- I can just feel it.
Nobody is going to hangout with me.
Etc.
“If I don’t win, I’m worthless.”
Multiple Answers!
Flip: “Winning would be nice, but my worth isn’t based on that.”
True or False: Catching distortions is the same thing as changing them.
False
What's the Distortion?
You’re late once and decide, “I’ll never be reliable again.”
“I got one compliment, but it doesn’t count. They were just being nice. I should do better.”
Discounting the Positive + Should Statements
Provide an example of "Disqualifying the Positive"
Multiple Answers!
They didn't mean that compliment- they're just being nice.
I got 1/10 wrong!? I'm such a failure.
Etc.
“I’ll never get better at this skill.”
Multiple Answers
Flip: “With practice, I can improve over time.”
True or False: Overgeneralization means using one example to make a big rule about everything.
True
What's the distortion?
"If I don't feel well that means I'm going to get sick and miss the rest of the school year."
Catastrophizing
“If something bad happens, it’s probably my fault, and it proves I’ll never succeed.”
Personalization + Fortune Telling
Provide an example of "Personalization"
Multiple Answers!
We lost the hockey game. It's all my fault.
My family is miserable because of me.
Etc.
“Everything is ruined because I made one mistake.”
Multiple Answers:
Flip: “One mistake doesn’t erase all the good I’ve done.”
True or False: Distortions are facts about the world.
False