Don’t Believe Everything You Think: Understanding Cognitive Distortions

Don’t Believe Everything You Think: Understanding Cognitive Distortions

We all have thoughts that pop into our heads, but not all thoughts are created equal. Some thoughts can be helpful and accurate, while others can be distorted and lead to unnecessary stress and anxiety. These distorted thoughts are known as cognitive distortions, and they can impact our mental well-being if left unchecked.

Here are some common cognitive distortions and examples to help you recognize them in your own thinking:

  1. All-or-nothing thinking: This distortion involves seeing things as black or white, with no middle ground. For example, thinking “I’m either perfect or a failure” instead of acknowledging that mistakes happen and growth is a process.
  2. Catastrophizing: This involves anticipating the worst-case scenario and overestimating the potential harm. For example, thinking “If I make a mistake at work, I’ll get fired and lose everything” instead of acknowledging that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process.
  3. Overgeneralization: This distortion involves taking one negative experience and applying it to all situations. For example, thinking “I’m bad at public speaking because I stumbled over my words in one presentation” instead of acknowledging that everyone has off days and that one experience doesn’t define your abilities.
  4. Personalization: This distortion involves taking responsibility for things that are outside of your control. For example, thinking “My friend didn’t text me back because I said something wrong” instead of acknowledging that your friend may be busy or simply forgot to respond.

These are just a few examples of cognitive distortions, but there are many others. By learning to recognize these patterns of thinking, we can start to challenge them and replace them with more accurate and helpful thoughts. This is where cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) comes in – a form of therapy that helps individuals identify and change these negative thought patterns.

Next time you catch yourself having a negative thought, take a step back and ask yourself if it falls into one of these cognitive distortion categories. Then, try to reframe the thought in a more accurate and helpful way. With practice, you can train your brain to think more positively and improve your overall mental well-being.

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