• Health & Wellness -> Mental Health and Psychology

• 0 Comment

What role do cognitive distortions play in cognitive therapy, and how are they addressed?

Reinhold Stitle

Cognitive distortions are like tricksters that can mess with our thoughts and ideas. They make us see things in a twisted way that can lead to negative feelings like anxiety, sadness, or anger.

In cognitive therapy, we aim to identify and address these distortions in order to improve our mental well-being. Some common types of cognitive distortions include black-and-white thinking, overgeneralization, and jumping to conclusions.

A good way to address cognitive distortions is to first become aware of them. This means paying attention to our thoughts and feelings and recognizing when they might not be based in reality. We can then challenge these thoughts, asking ourselves if they are really true or if there might be a different (and perhaps more positive) way to look at things.

For example, if we find ourselves thinking that we always fail at everything and that we're never going to succeed, we might challenge this by looking at evidence to the contrary. Maybe we have succeeded at things in the past, or maybe there are steps we can take to improve our chances of success in the future.

Another helpful strategy is to reframe our thoughts in a more positive way. Instead of saying "I'm terrible at this," we might try saying "This is challenging, but I'm going to keep working at it."

Overall, cognitive distortions are an important aspect of cognitive therapy because they can have a big impact on our mental health. By becoming aware of them and learning to challenge and reframe them, we can improve our mood, reduce anxiety and stress, and feel better able to cope with the challenges of life.