Distorted Thinking Styles

I'm doing an assignment in a workbook, and I have to think of an example from my life for each distorted thinking style. I *know* I have done almost all of these, but for the life of me I cannot think of examples. My mind is mush.

I feel like a failure!

Hello, MrsEric! Maybe you've already found one there:
This might be an example of

• filtering, and/or
• polarized thinking, and/or
• overgeneralization, and/or
• emotional reasoning, and/or
• global labeling

See Dr. Grohol's 15 Common Cognitive Distortions.

In short, the temporary inability to complete one assignment given by someone you are paying to help you is woefully insufficient evidence you are a "failure" (whatever a "failure" is).

You might think of negative thoughts you have. Then see if one of the cognitive arguments or distortions doesn't match each negative thought. And Rohag is right--your feeling like you are a failure is one of those!

If you are doing "New ways of thinking chapter"...it's a tough one...spent 3 weeks to get through it...let me know if you would like another person to bounce ideas off of or help.

My example of "Polarized Thinking"...I can't seem to think of any examples for this workbook; I suck and have no worth" Distortion-My inability to answer these questions during this moment in time defines my worth...rational comeback-I can't force evertything on to my time schedule. I can take a break and come back to it allowing the pressure to perform to be relaxed. I don't have to be perfect or "on" everytime to have good self worth.

That's exactly the chapter I'm doing and yes it's tough. I meant to go to the Friday session with Sarah but am too exhausted today.

I guess what I meant by feeling like a failure is, I know that in my past I have most likely had every single kind of those distorted thinking styles but I can't think of any examples from my own past. I look at the pages and everything starts to swim.

I know what you mean...I had a very similar experience with filling it out. It was also extremely triggering to me as I thought of examples. So we took it in smaller doses and spread it out. Be patient with yourself ok?