What are Cognitive Distortions?

Our thought patterns play a large role in the way we view the world around us, including things like our relationships, jobs, and living circumstances. The more experiences we have, the more patterns of thought we develop. Unfortunately, these patterns can often lead you to draw conclusions or interpret events in a way that is not actually based on facts or reality, typically in a negative way. When these false interpretations become a habitual way of thinking, they become cognitive distortions.

People often develop cognitive distortions in response to negative life situations as a coping mechanism. While they are not considered a form of mental illness on their own, they may be more likely to occur because of one.

Several types of cognitive distortions are particularly common. Some of these include:

  • Polarized thinking (thinking in extremes without considering all relevant facts)
  • Overgeneralization (applying a conclusion about one event to too many other events)
  • Catastrophizing (assuming the worst conclusion despite a lack of evidence)
  • Personalization (taking things personally that are not necessarily connected to you)
  • Mind reading (assuming to know what other people are thinking)
  • Mental filtering (ignoring positive things and focusing exclusively on the negatives)
  • Emotional reasoning (believing that emotions indicate the reality of a situation)
  • Labeling (classifying things in a negative way based on one negative event)

If you’re experiencing cognitive distortions, there are steps you can take to break out of these habitual ways of thinking. Once you’ve identified the thought, it can help to consider alternative evidence or interpretations that challenge your initial conclusion. Additionally, you may want to think in terms of how your initial thought is benefitting you as opposed to other conclusions.

Cognitive distortions can contribute to or indicate mental health problems such as anxiety or depression. Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Psychiatric Department offers a variety of approaches to therapy that can help you achieve an improved state of mind and quality of life. To learn more or schedule an appointment, please call (718) 670-5562.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Getting Help for Mental Health Issues is Nothing to be Ashamed Of

Mental illness affects millions of Americans, yet not surprisingly, many of those who need help do not receive it. There are many reasons why – it could be due to limited availability of services, or a strong distrust of others, or those who are mentally ill might have such a sense of hopelessness that they do not seek care.

While all of these are factors as to why someone doesn’t seek support, perhaps the biggest single reason is a sense of fear and shame associated with admitting help is needed. This sense of shame is very common and it is only reinforced by society, which has attached stigmas to mental illness. The beliefs the public has about mental illness leads those who need help to avoid it so they are not labeled as “crazy” and have their condition negatively affect their personal relationships and career goals.

Getting society to overcome the stigmas associated with mental illness is the key to having more individuals come forward, but unfortunately negative attitudes and beliefs toward people who have a mental health condition are common. These stigmas can lead to obvious and direct discrimination, such as someone making a negative remark about mental illness or it may be unintentional or subtle, such as someone avoiding an individual because they assume they could be unstable, violent or dangerous due to mental illness.

Those with mental illness should never be ashamed of their condition and here are some reasons why:

  • According to the World Health Organization, one out of four people will experience mental health problems at some point in their lives.
  • Shame is pretty much guaranteed to make things worse. Feelings of shame are proven to have detrimental effects on our mental and physical health
  • Mental illness is no one’s fault. No one asks to have a mental illness and it is definitely not a choice we make.
  • We’re not ashamed when our bodies get sick, so why should we be ashamed when our minds aren’t in top form.
  • There is no normal – our minds are complex things and no single brain is the same
  • Our mental health doesn’t define us. Don’t let your mental illness become who you are, it is just one aspect of you.

It’s time to speak out against the stigmas associated with mental illness and reframe the way we see it. Getting help is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength.

Flushing Hospital advises anyone who feels they need help to get it.  Don’t let the fear of being labeled with a mental illness prevent you from seeking help. Treatment can provide relief and help you in life.

To make an appointment at Flushing Hospital’s Outpatient Mental Health Center, please call 718-670-5522.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.