Thought Errors You Could Be Making Without Even Noticing

​Thoughts can benefit us, such as when we think through a problem or are making a grocery list. But what happens when thoughts are unhelpful? Even more, what happens when thoughts are causing harm and we aren't even aware? There are several common thinking errors that once recognized and adapted with a few simple tricks, can lead to a more enriched and mindful awareness of self and surroundings. In addition, acknowledging and adjusting thinking errors can lead to healthier relationships with others. Some of the most common thinking errors are all or nothing thinking, catastrophizing, personalization, mind reading, negative filtering, and overgeneralization. Let's take a deeper look at those pesky thoughts and identify some healthier ways to think.

---

#PositivePsychology #WellnessJourney #PositiveOutlook #MentalHealthSupport #PositiveThoughts #MindsetShift #CopingStrategies #MentalHealthAwareness #MindfulnessMatters #ThoughtPatterns #HealthyThinking #MindfulLife #MindfulnessPractice #MindfulThinking #ThoughtAwareness #MentalWellbeing #CognitiveDistortions #PositiveMindset #PositiveThoughts #PositiveThinking #MentalHealthSupport #SelfAwareness
Black & White Thinking
Also referred to as black and white thinking, all or nothing thinking is when someone thinks in
extremes. For example, when meeting your in-laws for the first time you think if they don't love
everything about you they are going to hate you. Someone who struggles with all or nothing thinking
tends to place an unhealthy level of standards on themselves and struggles to be satisfied. A common
technique to adapt this type of thinking error is to identify the middle of both extremes of thoughts and
adopt that.

Catastrophizing
Catastrophizing thoughts create a type of snowball effect in the form of a series of false assumptions.
For example, if you fail a test you think you will fail the class. If you fail the class you wont be able to go
to college. If you don't go to college then you wont get a job and will be homeless for the rest of your life.
As you can see, someone who struggles with catastrophizing thoughts may, for example, think that failing
a test will result in them being homeless for the rest of their life. Someone who struggles with this
thinking error may result in a constant worry something bad will happen. In order to correct this type of
thinking error, one should focus on the actual event and facts.

Personalization
Another common thinking error is personalization. Personalization is when one thinks they are the
cause of a problem that has no logical or factual reasoning to support that thought. For example, you
believe your co-workers are fighting because something you did, when there is no direct reasoning their
argument is caused by you. For this type of thinking error to be corrected it is important to consider the
lack of facts in relation to the role that is believed to have been played.

Mind Reading
Mind reading when you think you know what others are thinking and believing based on
assumptions not as facts. For example, your significant other didn't message you on his lunch break so he
must be mad at you. To adapt this type of thinking from one of harm to one that is healthy, it is important
to identify facts versus assumptions.

Negative Filtering
Negative filtering is just what it sounds like. This type of thinking error occurs when someone
only takes the negative out of a situation versus being able to see both negatives and positives. For
example, consider someone provides 5 compliments and mentions 1 area for improvement. A person with
negative filtering disregards the 5 complements and focuses on the one criticism. Someone who struggles
with this thinking error could feel depressed or angry more often than not. For this type of thinking error
to be adjusted, one should take a look at the information opposite to their viewpoint and attempt to move
to a more balanced outlook.

Overgeneralization
Overgeneralization is when you make a broad assumption based one one specific situation and
apply it to varying other situations. For example, you had a bad first day at work which means you will
always hate your job. Someone who struggles with this thinking error may struggle learning new things.
Paying attention for words like always or never, also known as broad generalized words, are the trick to
catching these type of thinking errors. To adapt overgeneralized thoughts to more healthy thoughts, it is
important to focus on the details of the situation.

As you can see, there are many different types of thoughts, some we may not even be aware of.
Fortunately. there are many methods to learning how to develop healthy thinking patterns with just a few
adjustments. The first step to a healthier relationship with your thoughts and with others is recognizing
your own personal thinking errors. If you find it is difficult identifying your own thinking errors or ways
to develop healthy alternative thinking patterns, it may be helpful to speak with a professional to help
guide you thorough the process.

by Jessica Whittington, LCSW

#ThoughtPatterns #HealthyThinking #Mindfulness #PositiveThinking #CognitiveDistortions #ThoughtAwareness #MindfulLiving #MentalWellness #MentalHealth #ThoughtErrors #MindfulnessPractice #ThoughtAwareness #PositiveMindset #SelfAwareness #MentalHealthAwareness #PositivePsychology #WellnessJourney #PositiveOutlook #MentalHealthSupport #PositiveThoughts #MindsetShift #CopingStrategies #MentalHealthAwareness #MindfulnessMatters #ThoughtPatterns #HealthyThinking #MindfulLife #MindfulnessPractice #MindfulThinking #ThoughtAwareness #MentalWellbeing #CognitiveDistortions #PositiveMindset #PositiveThoughts #PositiveThinking #MentalHealthSupport #SelfAwareness ​