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Cognitive distortion list...do you see any that you do?

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@The Albatross

I am happy you jumped in, as to me, you are very keen in decisive factors of separation between bull-harky (cognitive distortion sway) and normal thinking trend. If you have the desire and time, I would find comfort in your thoughts being present on this thread. I do learn a lot from you as well as Spock.:hug:
 
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-practice/201301/50-common-cognitive-distortions


50. "I can't change my behavior." (or "I can't change my thinking style.")

Sometimes because my PTSD has been a constant with added trauma sprinkled on top, I forget how far I have come with my toolkit development and see the PTSD (at times) as being stuck in h3ll. Since science has determined new thought pathways can be developed, I can change my attitude, have altered my depression level (through meditation), my choices are healthier (a form of behavior) and try to be accountable or present.

Yup, I may still be a mess at times...but I am not my PTSD and there is hope of change.
 
"8. Thinking an absence of effusiveness means something is wrong.

Believing an absence of a smiley-face in an email means someone is mad at you. Or, interpreting “You did a good job” as negative if you were expecting “You did a great job.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-practice/201301/50-common-cognitive-distortions

I do this one with respect of that of my Son. I am finding that it stems from my own insecurity and not relaxing with his choice of expression.
I do this one with my LandLord as she is sentimentally extremely mushy and then very cold next. I take it personal and need to remember I am not the cause.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/effusive
 
21. Assuming your current feelings will stay the same in the future.

Today my Meneiere's Ear Disease is kicking in full throttle, the pain is high and my balance is gone. I must remember that this feeling of defeat is over a circumstance, episodic. I will embrace the sadness as a normal component of the human condition and use my tool box of (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) CBT , Mindfulness Meditation and reevaluation of the evidence of past successes to combat the depressive tendencies.
 
49. Repeating the same behavior and expecting different results (or thinking that doubling-down on a failed strategy will start to produce positive results).

For example, expecting that if you nag more, your partner will change.
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I have got stuck in this distorted cognition for years!
 
Bumping this back up cuz I had to go looking for it... wanted to take a look at them again (other than the basic 10). I never did recover the list of my offenders that got edited out of my diary (that I recall anyways since I never came back here to share it in the discussion) so I guess I have to do it again.
 
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Dug around and found my list but will likely re-evaluate now (since it's been 5 months or so) against the original 50:

4. Underestimating coping ability. Underestimating your ability cope with negative events.

6. Biased attention toward signs of social rejection, and lack of attention to signs of social acceptance. For example, during social interactions, paying attention to someone yawning but not paying the same degree of attention to other cues that suggest they are interested in what you’re saying (such as them leaning in).

7. Negatively biased recall of social encounters. Remembering negatives from a social situation and not remembering positives. For example, remembering losing your place for a few seconds while giving a talk but not remembering the huge clap you got at the end.

15. Recognizing feelings as causes of behavior, but not equally attending to how behavior influences thoughts and feelings. For example, you think “When I have more energy, I’ll exercise” but not “Exercising will give me more energy.”

24. Minimizing. e.g., “Yes I won an important award but that still doesn’t really mean I’m accomplished in my field.”

25. Magnifying (Cognitively Exaggerating). For example, blowing your own mistakes and flaws out of proportion and perceiving them as more significant than they are. Making a mountain out of a molehill, but not quite to the same extent as catastrophizing.

29. Falling victim to the “Foot in the Door” technique. When someone makes a small request to get a “Yes” answer, then follows up with a bigger request, people are more likely to agree to the big request than if only that request had been made.

38. In-group bias. The tendency to trust and value people who are like you, or who are in your circle, more than people from different backgrounds.

39. "You don't know what you don't know." Getting external feedback can help you become aware of things you didn't even know that you didn't know!

42. Biased implicit attitudes. Psychologists use a test called the implicit association test(link is external) to measure attitudes that people subconsciously hold. Results show people subconsciously associate fat with lazy etc. It's useful to be mindful that you may subconsciously hold biased attitudes, then you can consciously correct for them.

43. The Peak-End Rule. The tendency to most strongly remember (1) how you felt at the end of an experience, and (2) how you felt at the moment of peak emotional intensity during the experience. Biased memories can lead to biased future decision making.
 
3. Negative predictions.

Overestimating the likelihood that an action will have a negative outcome.
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I am doing this about my lesson plans. I am thinking the worst will happen. For goodness sakes - a lesson may go badly - seriously why am I acting like it is life or death? Because I am very human and flawed and I am no longer mostly dissociated.
 
I am doing a lot of them, to be truthful... Being afraid of how I will do tomorrow before today's even through isn't helpful... Time to try to change...

Ms Spock - "The worst will always happen" seems to be a life theme for me as well, I understand. Best wishes that you can retrain yourself otherwise - that we both can.
 
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