10 Types of Distorted Thinking

1. FILTERING

MAGNIFYING THE NEGATIVE DETAILS AND FILTERING OUT ALL POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THE SITUATION.

2. POLARIZING

VIEWING THE WORLD IN BLACK AND WHITE; “GOOD” OR “BAD”; PERFECT OR A TOTAL FAILURE.

3. MIND READING

BELIEVING THAT YOU DIVINELY KNOW WHAT OTHERS ARE THINKING AND FEELING, EVEN BETTER THAN THEY DO.

4. CATASTROPHIZING

EXPECTING AND ATTEMPTING TO PREPARE FOR THE WORST CASE SCENARIO. OFTEN BY ASKING, “BUT WHAT IF ______...”

5. PERSONALIZING

THINKING THAT EVERYTHING SAID OR DONE IS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO YOU.

6. BLAMING

HOLDING OTHER PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR PAIN (EG: “YOU MADE ME ACT THIS WAY!”) OR BLAMING YOURSELF FOR EVERY PROBLEM.

7. SHOULD-ING

OKAY, NOT A THING BUT YOU GET THE POINT. THIS IS UPHOLDING STRICT EXPECTATIONS AS TO HOW PEOPLE SHOULD ACT. THOSE WHO DON’T MATCH YOUR IDEALS PISS YOU OFF. LIKEWISE, YOU FEEL IMMENSE GUILT FOR BREAKING RULES.

8. EMOTIONAL REASONING

BELIEVING THAT WHAT YOU FEEL MUST BE TRUE. IF YOU FEEL STUPID OR BORING THEN YOU ARE STUPID AND BORING.

9. FALLACY OF CHANGE

EXPECTING OTHERS TO ADAPT TO FIT YOUR NEEDS IF YOU CAJOLE OR PRESSURE THEM ENOUGH. YOUR SENSE OF HAPPINESS IS DEPENDENT ON OTHERS, SO YOU NEED THEM TO CHANGE.

10. OVERGENERALIZING

COMING TO A LONG-STANDING CONCLUSION BASED UPON A SINGLE EXPERIENCE OR PIECE OF EVIDENCE. IF SOMETHING HAPPENS ONCE, IT WILL ALWAYS HAPPEN.