Cognitive Distortions

Cognitive distortions, also known as automatic thoughts or inaccurate thinking are thought patterns that create an unhealthy view of reality and when unresolved can worsen anxiety and depression. Normal situations can turn negative based on how they’re interpreted—often through inaccurate, biased, or illogical thinking. Since emotional responses come from perception, different interpretations of the same situation can lead to different emotional and behavioral outcomes. Cognitive distortions can be tangible (believing you can’t complete a task despite contrary evidence) or abstract (believing you’ve lost your identity or personality). Also see: Mood-Congruent Self-Schema. Categories include:

• Black-and-white or polarizing thinking in extremes—good/bad—not seeing nuance or complexity.
• Catastrophizing: Assuming worst possible outcome in stressful situation or exaggerating difficulties.
• Overgeneralizing: Relying on overly broad thinking and language—using words like always, never, everybody, nobody—in evaluating events or people, based on limited experience.
• Personalizing: Automatically blaming themselves, despite evidence something’s not their fault or is beyond their control.