Mental Traps: How to Recognize and Escape Cognitive Distortions
Frequently in life, our internal dialogue can get in the way of our goals. This is especially true if we allow cognitive distortions to creep in. Chances are, you’ve experienced cognitive distortions, subtle but powerful mental traps that can lead to false beliefs and inaccurate conclusions. Cognitive distortions are distorted thoughts and beliefs that can lead to a range of mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. Identifying these cognitive distortions and actively challenging them is an important part of overcoming negative thinking patterns and fostering mental wellness. Here, we’ll explore the five relevant cognitive distortions.
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1. All-or-Nothing Thinking: Seeing things in black-and-white categories, where compromise or middle ground isn’t possible; also known as dichotomous thinking.
An example of all-or-nothing thinking can be seen in the statement: “I failed this test; I’m a complete failure.” To challenge this type of thought, it would be helpful to remind oneself that making mistakes is human, there are always other opportunities to succeed, and that even successes can have failures within them. Instead of viewing experiences through an all-or-nothing lens, one can…
