- Labeling: Calling yourself or someone a name just because a mistake was made or something bad happened.
- Gotta-be-Right Thinking: Thinking that you are always right and not caring what others think or how they feel. (Always Being Right)
- Small Deal Thinking: Believing that something isn’t a big deal, even though it really should be. (Minimizing)
- Future Telling: Thinking that you already know that things are going to turn out badly in the future. (Fortune Telling)
- Remembering-the-Bad Thinking: Only remembering the bad about a situation and ignoring any of the good. (Mental Filtering)
- Big Deal Thinking: Making a big deal out of a situation and believing the worst is going to happen. (Catastrophizing)
- Feelings-are-Facts Thinking: Thinking that the way you feel means that what you believe about something has to be true. (Emotional Reasoning)
- Always-ing: Thinking that just because something happens once, it will always continue to happen. Also using words like “never” or “all”. (Overgeneralizing)
- Mind Reading: Believing that you know what others are thinking about you - even with no proof.
- Forgetting-the-Good Thinking: Thinking that you had nothing to do with a good thing that happened or not believing others when they compliment you. (Discounting the Positives)
- Black-or-White Thinking: Thinking that things have to turn out a certain way or else it’s the worst thing EVER.
- My Fault Thinking: Believing that something is your fault - even when it probably has nothing to do with you. (Personalizing)
- Shoulds: Telling yourself that things should be a certain way, and if they’re not, you feel guilty, annoyed, or angry.
- Your Fault Thinking: Blaming other people when bad things or feelings happen to you. (Blaming)
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of distorted thinking worksheet.
