Regular readers of this blog know I often write about the cognitive distortions described by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, including overgeneralization, mind reading, catastrophizing, personalization, comparisons, shoulds, and labeling/name-calling. Regular readers of this blog do NOT know that I soon will be performing my latest original song (titled “Nobody’s Perfect” and co-written with a Social Work intern at work named Nat) with other musicians, and we’re thinking of calling ourselves “The Cognitive Distortions.”
Last night, my boyfriend Michael and I were experiencing cognitive distortions when we were both making overgeneralizations about human beings. Our cognitive distortions have increased since the last U.S. Presidential election as we both try to make sense of the human behavior described in the media, by cognitively debating and trying to understand what people are really like and why they say what they say and do what they do.
Do you see any cognitive distortions in this part of our discussion last night?
Michael: I think people who say “I believe in him” or “I believe in that” know, on some level, that those things are not true.
Me: Michael, this is the same disagreement we constantly have. I think that a lot of people really believe what they say. How do you know what they really believe? That’s overgeneralization and mind reading.
Michael: How do YOU know what they really believe?
Me: I don’t really know, but I’ve encountered so many people in individual and group therapy who seem to really believe what they say they believe.
Michael: And I’ve encountered thousands of people through my work in the food industry.
Me: THOUSANDS?
Michael: Let me tell you a story that sums up my experience of people. There was this woman I used to work with. One day, somebody asked her if she believed in ghosts. She said, “No.” And then she added, “But I’ve seen one.”
Me (laughing): I’m putting that in tomorrow’s blog.
Do you see any cognitive distortions in today’s photos?
I just searched YouTube for “cognitive distortions” to see if any musical group already has that name. This is what I found:
Feel free to express your cognitions and feelings about Cognitive Distortions, below.
Thanks and appreciation to all who helped me express the cognitive distortions in today’s post and — of course! — thanks and appreciation to YOU.