The Thought Method Co.

by Lyndsey Getty

Tag: cognitive distortions

  • picture of a stack of oreos against a blue background. this is to symbolize all-or-nothing thinking which is also sometimes called "black and white" thinking

    What Is All-Or-Nothing Thinking?

    All-or-nothing thinking, also known as extreme, polarized, or black-and-white thinking, is a cognitive distortion that affects the way you perceive and interpret the world. In this article, you’ll learn what all-or-nothing thinking is and see some real-world examples to help you grasp its impact on your life. Cognitive distortions First, let’s talk about cognitive distortions.…

  • Picture of of Kim Kardashian with the quote "It seems like nobody wants to work these days."

    Everyday Examples of All-Or-Nothing Thinking

    All-or-Nothing thinking (a.k.a. black and white thinking, or extreme thinking) is a way of thinking that makes you view things in extreme, often negative, ways. It negatively impacts your mental health and is common in people with depression and anxiety. Common examples of all-or-nothing thinking include sayings like, “I never feel happy; I always feel…

  • Emotional Reasoning Quiz

  • The Should Thinking Trap. How to Break Free With Real-Life Solutions

    Ever found yourself caught in the “Should Thinking” trap? Wondering what the “Should Thinking” trap is and if it’s holding you back? Let’s break it down and explore how this thinking trap can affect real-life situations. The Should Thinking Trap  A thinking trap is a pattern of thought where you get stuck in unhealthy ways…

  • Example of Emotional Reasoning in the Media

    You need to reject toxic advice in your environment if you want to achieve goals and mental wellness. Here’s an example.

  • Fake Trends Are Taking a Toll on Your Mental Health, Here’s How to Stop Them

    “Trend” used to describe something that was popular. You would see real world (empirical) evidence, like people actually wearing or doing the thing that was trending.  But the word “trend” or “trending” got a silent rebrand. And now, while “trend” is still used to describe things that are popular (like on Twitter when a topic…

  • This Thought Habit Is a Sign of Low Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

    Blaming is a cognitive distortion. Meaning, it’s a thinking style common among those with depression and anxiety. Blaming is when we: Blaming and Low Emotional Intelligence When you blame others, you get stuck in finding where to place blame instead of focusing on growth and achieving goals. When you blame outside factors, you limit yourself…

  • How Jumping to Conclusions is Keeping You Stuck

    Jumping to conclusions is a thinking distortion. It’s when we make assumptions or judgements without knowing all the facts. There are typically two ways that we do this: mind-reading and fortune telling. And the reason we jump to conclusions is because we like to have information. We need it to make decisions and it helps…

  • 11 Ways Labeling is Destroying your Mental Health

    Labeling (or global labeling) is distorted thinking. It’s when we reduce ourselves or others to a single characteristic.

  • 33+ Examples of All-or-Nothing Thinking

    Certain words are associated with all-or-nothing thinking. If you know what they are you can watch out for them and catch yourself when you’re thinking in all-or-nothing terms.