10 Common Cognitive Distortions and what to do about them

[drjean]

One foot in front of the other... these counters to cognitive distortions do work...and are Biblically based (in spite of society's ideas )

 

[TomDaveTom]

I love this section! The best part is if it is immeasurable then it doesn't exist. Accomplishments are also made solely by a team rather than the individual themselves.

 

[joyfulbunny]

thank you for this post.

 

[sharoneiri]

Helpful words.

 

[drjean]

Our errant thinking causes all manner of maladies... depression, anxiety especially!

 

[dysert]

Our errant thinking causes all manner of maladies... depression, anxiety especially!

It can, but please note that depression and anxiety may also be biological in nature. So far, very little can be done to change the brain chemistry.

 

[drjean]

It can, but please note that depression and anxiety may also be biological in nature. So far, very little can be done to change the brain chemistry.

Actually, by changing our thinking we DO change brain chemistry. Even if from a biological cause (other than negative thinking patterns) positive thinking, renewing our mind, has been proven to make us better.

Dr Seligman has does extensive research on positive psychology (what he calls his cognitive behavior therapy approach) and has even documented that even though depressed, if the person will reach out and appreciate another, it improves the brain chemistry of the depressed person....but even moreso, say you go the "extra mile" and that really makes a difference.

For example, even here on the website...if a depressed person is reading about someone achieving a good thing and they post congratulations or such, that helps them both. But, if the depressed person goes the extra step of going to that person's profile page or PMing them and giving them an additional congrats or note, the brain chemistry improves even more.

There's a Biblical basis for this. Read the Scriptures about renewing the mind, as a man thinketh...etc. It's not brainwashing, it's more along the line of the "self fulfilling prophecy" in that what we dwell upon, is where our minds and bodies go.

Quantum physics/mechanics has also shown that what we want to see is what we actually get and see. With experiments where several microscopes (subatomic level) are viewing the same event by different scientists at the same time, and with each viewing through each microscope being recorded, it has been shown that each scientist actually saw what they expected to see from the event!!!! It's called "the observer effect"...

God gave us marvelous minds and bodies.... don't give in to the world's view that there isn't anything you do about who or what you are or how you live and approach life.

It also works for anxiety and other disorders.... though there are some (the psychoticisms) where it takes a bit more of a miracle I think.

Be well.

One foot in front of the other... you don't have to stay the way you are...but therapy IS HARD WORK.

 

[dysert]

Actually, by changing our thinking we DO change brain chemistry. Even if from a biological cause (other than negative thinking patterns) positive thinking, renewing our mind, has been proven to make us better.

Dr Seligman has does extensive research on positive psychology (what he calls his cognitive behavior therapy approach) and has even documented that even though depressed, if the person will reach out and appreciate another, it improves the brain chemistry of the depressed person....but even moreso, say you go the "extra mile" and that really makes a difference.

For example, even here on the website...if a depressed person is reading about someone achieving a good thing and they post congratulations or such, that helps them both. But, if the depressed person goes the extra step of going to that person's profile page or PMing them and giving them an additional congrats or note, the brain chemistry improves even more.

There's a Biblical basis for this. Read the Scriptures about renewing the mind, as a man thinketh...etc. It's not brainwashing, it's more along the line of the "self fulfilling prophecy" in that what we dwell upon, is where our minds and bodies go.

Quantum physics/mechanics has also shown that what we want to see is what we actually get and see. With experiments where several microscopes (subatomic level) are viewing the same event by different scientists at the same time, and with each viewing through each microscope being recorded, it has been shown that each scientist actually saw what they expected to see from the event!!!! It's called "the observer effect"...

God gave us marvelous minds and bodies.... don't give in to the world's view that there isn't anything you do about who or what you are or how you live and approach life.

It also works for anxiety and other disorders.... though there are some (the psychoticisms) where it takes a bit more of a miracle I think.

Be well.

One foot in front of the other... you don't have to stay the way you are...but therapy IS HARD WORK.

Thanks, drjean. I'd like to read more of Dr. Seligman's work. For me, I can't say that it has worked that way. I've been through cognitive therapy, done the "think happy thoughts" thing, and even played "fake it till you make it". Yet here I am 15 years later still munching on 450mg of Effexor every day to remain functional. Perhaps it's true for some, that thinking happy thoughts will alter one's brain chemistry, but I've always thought of clinical depression like I think of diabetes. The body simply isn't producing chemicals the way it's supposed to. It's not been my experience that the way I think changes this (lack of) balance.

Btw, if you know of anyplace online that discusses Seligman's work I'd appreciate reading about it. Thanks.

 

[thankful40plus]

Yes, very very good.

 

[truthislight]

wow! this thread is a blessing and then some ! thank you !

 

[Frank White]

This is good to know! Thanks for this topic!

 

[Comprehender]

I'll ditto what many people have mentioned... this list is awesome!

A similar list is the best thing I got out of therapy - because essentially how we think affects how we feel & we are the one primarily in charge of our thinking.

 

[drjean]

Thanks for your posts!

 

[drjean]

Thanks, drjean. I'd like to read more of Dr. Seligman's work. For me, I can't say that it has worked that way. I've been through cognitive therapy, done the "think happy thoughts" thing, and even played "fake it till you make it". Yet here I am 15 years later still munching on 450mg of Effexor every day to remain functional. Perhaps it's true for some, that thinking happy thoughts will alter one's brain chemistry, but I've always thought of clinical depression like I think of diabetes. The body simply isn't producing chemicals the way it's supposed to. It's not been my experience that the way I think changes this (lack of) balance.

Btw, if you know of anyplace online that discusses Seligman's work I'd appreciate reading about it. Thanks.

Dr Seligman's website is under Authentic Happiness.

Yes, we battle brain chemical imbalances (or whatever the current term for the same event is). Persistence is necessary. What a depressed person sees is depression and rarely sees himself as he progresses to health...it still feels bad. It takes another outside observer who notices and encourages...even when the patient denies and rejects any notion of improvement. (That's the depression talking.)

God's Word promises it works too... so continue. What a depressed person doesn't realize is that the moments of feeling better IS reality. Usually he feels that the depressed mood is reality and the moments of clarity is a fluke.

 

[drjean]

This works good for anxiety as well, since so much of anxiety is through driven, fear driven.

 

[drjean]

It might be easier for folks to find and use this if it were stickied.

 

[Chococat]

It won't happen overnight. It can take a long time to get into the habit of thinking rightly but it can be done. Maybe it can't "cure" depression completely but it can help a lot.

 

[Josheb]

Yes, as a man thinketh, so he is (Pr. 23:7 kjv). It is out of the abundance of our hearts that the mouth speaks (Lk. 6:45), the fingers type, and the person makes choices. If you change the way you think you can change the way you act.

I use a CBT based model for counseling daily. I learned it when I was the client and now teach it to all my clients. I've seen it effect positive change in countless people's lives. I also use Ellis' Core Irrational ideas. Beck is about how we think crookedly and Ellis tells us about the specific deceptions we entertain (like: I must be loved in order to have worth). The cognitive distortions are accessible and useable by anyone, no PhD required (just a little courage, patience, honesty, and diligence ).

Today, with our understanding of emotion-focus and dialectics we can reach well beyond the origins of the CBT/REBT models. I like to use John 3:19-21 to help clients understand the importance of not "fighting or flighting" our own content. Walk in the light: those who live by the truth come into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

 

[grandvizier1006]

I thought I was pretty much the only person who thought all this negative stuff! Ok, maybe not the only person, but I've recently been battling depression and negative thoughts for the past few months. I've gotten much better, but this is really helpful so that I can avoid falling back into this depression.

But enough onionheads and emotes. This is going to be really helpful for me!

 

[mcastillo79]

Philippians 4:8


Cognitive behavior therapy works by teaching how to recognize your cognitive distortions (thinking that isn't rational or true)... and by showing how to counter the negative thoughts and change them ("reframe" them) to positive ones.

I love MBCT... I try to practice it daily.