Cognitive distortions are irrational beliefs that help people distort and twist reality to match their internal beliefs about themselves. David Burns MD, a cognitive therapist, described several common mistakes people make regarding things they think about themselves or other people.

l      ALL OR NOTHING THINKING Seeing things in black and white thinking. With this kind of thinking, you will believe that If you fail to do it perfectly, you’re a total failure. l      OVERGENERALIZATION Drawing conclusions based on one specific case. You see on event as being indicative of the entire picture. l      MENTAL FILTER Picking out a single event and allowing it to color the whole picture. Looking at tne aspect of an evaluation as if it were the whole picture. l      DISQUALIFYING THE POSITIVE Rejecting the positive as if it didn’t count. When you experience success, you say it was an oddity: when you fail, you experience it as the predictable norm. l      JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS Making a negative interpretation without supporting evidence. Mind-reading- assuming you know that others are thinking the worst about you, and fortune telling errors- anticipating a negative outcome as if it were factual.

l      MAGNIFICATION OR MINIMIZATION Exaggerating or shrinking the importance of things, such as your goof, or her success. l      EMOTIONAL REASONING Assuming that your feelings reflect reality. You think that If you feel that way it must be true. l      LABELING Attaching a derogatory or negative label to describe yourself or others instead of describing the behavior. l      PERSONALIZATION Seeing yourself as the cause of some negative event for which you are NOT primarily responsible.

3611 Chain Bridge Road  Suite A   Fairfax, Virginia 22030   4310 Wakefield Drive Annandale, Virginia 22003   703-608-0180