10 Types Of Cognitive Distortion That Affect Peace Of Mind

Illustration of cognitive distortion type that affects peace of mind (Freepic/coconie_studio)

YOGYAKARTA Cognitive distortion is an inaccurate mindset or belief and tends to be negative. This mindset affects calm of mind. Even cognitive distortion affects the views of oneself, others, experiences, and the world around them.

Cognitive distortions are sometimes annoying. Because rational thoughts can shift to irrationality and affect how you do things. Well, to regain peace of mind, recognize the following type of cognitive distortion that seems more often disturbing.

Catastophizing, or disaster, occurs when you always expect about the worst outcome of a situation. This can make you interpret a harmless state even as a threat. This first type of cognitive distortion, for example, when thinking What if I say no and he says, What if this shortness of breath is a heart attack?, Did my child experience something bad when he didn't call?.

Mental filtering, or mental filtering occurs when you are fixated on negative things and ignore the positives of a situation. For example, when you have a good job but still blame yourself for not controlling one thing.

Uncalculated thoughts cause us to make too fast and inappropriate. This is experienced when cognitively distorted negative things. For example, when people around you are busy working you assume they are bored with you. The conclusions taken are too fast, often not based on careful and rational considerations.

Acting based on emotional impulses, also referred to as emotional reasoning. It is recognized when you think an emotional state reflects the reality of a situation. For example, thinking that anxiety arises as a sign of moderate or imminent harm. This mindset, common when in a panic, followed by a faster heartbeat. So conclude something is wrong.

Cognitive distortions, sometimes called binary opposition thinking. Like black-and-white, split, like-dislike, wrong. Someone who experiences it, ignores the middle way. So that things seem to be generalized or simplified, even though the facts are very complex.

The excessive generalization is based on some evidence. But then the evidence directs you to assume negative. Words like never'' and every tend to appear a lot in this mindset.

Labeling involves self-definition or someone else based on certain negative events. One may call himself a "stupid" or a failed person, a jorok, a "lazy". But the labeling can burden the self-esteem.

Personalization is when you imagine yourself as the cause of the problem even though the situation is out of control. For example, your sister fell down the stairs while attending an office promotion party. Then because of cognitive distortion, then think your sister fell because of you.

This is an internal statement that makes you hold unrealistic high standards for yourself. For example, 'I shouldn't cause trouble by speaking frankly'. Or I should always know the right thing to say.

Ignoring positive things also minimizes something that should mean. This happens because it is filled with negative thoughts. In other words, looking for reasons why negative things are always experienced in life, is a sign that they are experiencing cognitive distortion.

The cognitive distortion, cited from HelpGuide, Monday, July 15, can reduce calm of mind. It also disturbs sleep, tense body, anxiety disorders, headaches, or stomachaches. Researchers also believe that cognitive distortion plays a role in depression by constantly strengthening negative views on self, experience, and the world.