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The CBT Thread

Shawn November 22, 2018 at 02:45 4100 views 8 comments
I've been allowed graciously by @jamalrob to post about cognitive distortions in my other thread about well, cognitive distortions.

Here is a list of cognitive distortions that I want to address:

Quoting Wikipedia
1.1 Always being right
1.2 Blaming
1.3 Disqualifying the positive
1.4 Emotional reasoning
1.5 Fallacy of change
1.6 Fallacy of fairness
1.7 Mental filtering
1.8 Jumping to conclusions
1.9 Labeling and mislabeling
1.10 Magnification and minimization
1.11 Overgeneralizing
1.12 Personalizing
1.13 Making "must" or "should" statements
1.14 Splitting (All-or-nothing thinking, black-or-white thinking, dichotomous reasoning)


I wanted to address each one individually; but, that would make this thread useless. However, I'll ask the simple question as to which one are you guilty of think up and do you recognize it as a cognitive distortion. If so, then how do you get yourself unstuck from committing them?

Feel free to post whatever cognitive distortion you think is applicable if not listed in the above.



Comments (8)

Nils Loc November 22, 2018 at 18:30 #230282
It seems like most folks are prone to these cognitive distortions in subtle ways. Such thoughts are likely exaggerated in those who have neurotic or depressive personalities.

It seems like "disqualifying the positive" would apply to me more often than it should. Being depressed all I tend to see is the negative. Life is like being stuck within the rhythms and flows of an impersonal and brutal bureaucratic slave-driving machine but I fail to have a perspective grounded in true hell (genocide, poverty, failed states and war).

Am reading J. Goldstein's explanation of the Sattipathana Sutta (foundation for mindfulness meditation). Being mindful of the mind's automaticity in regards to sensation is important to freeing ourselves from bad habits of cognitive distortions.
Shawn November 22, 2018 at 20:54 #230336
Quoting Nils Loc
Such thoughts are likely exaggerated in those who have neurotic or depressive personalities.


Why is that so?

Quoting Nils Loc
It seems like "disqualifying the positive" would apply to me more often than it should. Being depressed all I tend to see is the negative. Life is like being stuck within the rhythms and flows of an impersonal and brutal bureaucratic slave-driving machine but I fail to have a perspective grounded in true hell (genocide, poverty, failed states and war).


How can you appreciate the positive more? Can you stop disqualifying the positive?

Quoting Nils Loc
Am reading J. Goldstein's explanation of the Sattipathana Sutta (foundation for mindfulness meditation). Being mindful of the mind's automaticity in regards to sensation is important to freeing ourselves from bad habits of cognitive distortions.


So, mindfulness meditation is the key, here?
Nils Loc November 23, 2018 at 18:30 #230499
Quoting Posty McPostface
Why is that so?


There is a more severe tension (or dissonance) between expected, normal or good behavior and the behavior of someone suffering anxiety or depression and this is reflected in thought by rationalization.

Quoting Posty McPostface
How can you appreciate the positive more? Can you stop disqualifying the positive?


The first step would be to stop the negative thought or be aware that it is unnecessary, then affirm all the good things in one's life as a counterpoint I guess. There is a lot of relative good in my life but when it doesn't correspond to feeling good its hard to find it worthwhile (or to do it). Feeling bad corresponds with thinking negatively in my book.

Quoting Posty McPostface
So, mindfulness meditation is the key, here?


Just a practiced method for relief.



Shawn November 23, 2018 at 19:01 #230505
Quoting Nils Loc
There is a more severe tension (or dissonance) between expected, normal or good behavior and the behavior of someone suffering anxiety or depression and this is reflected in thought by rationalization.


Yes; but, what makes the mind of a depressive more prone to cognitive distortions?

Nils Loc November 23, 2018 at 19:03 #230509
Quoting Posty McPostface
Yes; but, what makes the mind of a depressive more prone to cognitive distortions?


Probably because feeling directs and is more crucial to thought than we think. Just a guess. Am relating this to disqualifying the positive or wallowing in the negative.
Terrapin Station November 23, 2018 at 19:06 #230512
How about cognitive distortion re the idea that we should be seeking approval from moderators about how we can divide up topics?
Shawn November 23, 2018 at 19:07 #230513
Quoting Nils Loc
Probably because feeling directs and is more crucial to thought than we think. Just a guess. Am relating this to disqualifying the positive for wallowing in the negative.


Wallowing is fine. Some wallowing is healthy for the soul.
Shawn November 23, 2018 at 19:07 #230514
Quoting Terrapin Station
How about the cognitive distortion re the idea that we should be seeking approval from moderators about how we can divide up topics?


What do you mean??