What Are Cognitive Distortions? 🧠💭

Have you ever caught yourself thinking things like, "Everything always goes wrong for me," or "If I’m not perfect, I’m a failure"? 🤔 These thoughts are an example of something we all experience at some point: cognitive distortions.

What Are They?

Cognitive distortions are unrealistic or faulty ways of thinking that our mind often uses without us even realizing it. These distortions interpret reality in a negative, exaggerated, or overly simplistic way, which can affect our emotions and decisions. 😓

How Do They Affect Us?

1️⃣ Thoughts: They make us see things from a narrow perspective, often leading to extreme or incorrect conclusions.
2️⃣ Emotions: They can amplify feelings of anxiety, sadness, or frustration.
3️⃣ Behaviors: They influence our decisions and may lead us to act impulsively or lose motivation.

For example, if we make a mistake at work, a cognitive distortion like thinking, "I do everything wrong," can make us feel incompetent, which might discourage us from trying to improve.

Where Do They Come From?

These distortions often stem from our past experiences, our beliefs about the world, and, at times, the ways we’ve learned to cope with difficult situations. The good news is that with practice and self-awareness, they can be identified and changed. 💡

A First Step to Overcoming Them

The first step is to become aware of these patterns. Ask yourself:
• Am I seeing the situation objectively?
• What evidence do I have to think this way?
• Am I magnifying the negative and minimizing the positive?

Identifying cognitive distortions can be the beginning of a positive transformation in how we view the world and handle our challenges.

🌟 Remember: You’re not alone in this process. We all have cognitive distortions, but with practice, we can learn to confront them and shift our perspective to live with greater clarity and balance.

Do you identify with any of these distortions? Share your thoughts in the comments, and let’s keep learning together. 😊

💙 With care,
Dr. Arturo José Sánchez Hernández
Your friend in promoting health 💙
Discover more of my works at: https://books2read.com/asanchez 🧠✨