![]() This all-or-nothing mindset makes it hard to approach issues with any sort of nuance or room for compromise. When complex issues are oversimplified so that they become black or white, yes or no, good versus bad (or me versus them) matters, that’s dichotomous thinking. Mental health experts have identified many specific types of negative thinking patterns, including: 1. Add a negative thought pattern that leads to a sense of hopelessness (e.g., “What’s the point of getting out of bed at all when nobody cares about me?”), and you have another significant obstacle impairing the depressed person’s ability to function, much less heal. Someone suffering from clinical depression, for example, may struggle to find the energy to get out of bed in the morning, even on a good day. Is being negative a symptom of depression? Yes, but the opposite is also true – depression leads to negative thinking. ![]() The relationship between the two is cyclical, almost paradoxical in a chicken-and-egg way. The link between negative thought patterns and depression is not surprising to anyone who has struggled with depression. The Connection Between Negative Thought Patterns and Depression They can also be projected onto other people and the world around you, such as believing everyone is lying, blaming a person or institution for your personal problems, or obsessing over a partner’s feelings towards you. Cognitive distortions are not always self-deprecating, however. By recognizing and coping with the issue when the negative thought pattern is first beginning, you have a better chance of disrupting this pattern before it spirals into a larger mental health crisis.Ĭommon cognitive distortions include thinking yourself unworthy of love or success, believing everyone hates you, blaming yourself for your parents’ divorce, and other self-destructive beliefs. Learning to identify cognitive distortions can help someone break free of them. This, in turn, can cause or exacerbate mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. More specifically, the term refers to insecure, self-destructive, or nihilistic thinking that leads people to hold harmful false beliefs about themselves and their place in the world. ![]() In the simplest terms, cognitive distortions are errors in thinking. The term “distortion” is used because these negative thoughts lead to untrue and unrealistic conclusions or even distortions of reality itself. When harmful patterns of thought occur repeatedly, this meets the definition of a cognitive distortion. Cognitive Distortion: When Negative Thinking Forms a Larger Pattern Whatever the true root of our negative thought patterns, we can all take steps to empower ourselves to overcome them and break free of their influence. The primary driver of a negative thought pattern will vary greatly depending on the person engaged in the negative thinking, their particular history, their triggers, and their current mental health situation. What is the main cause of negative thinking? There is no single main cause that we can point to, as negative thinking arises from a complex web of dynamic factors. It is perhaps no wonder we can be so fixated on the negative things around us. Even modern human history is in many ways a tale of violence and terror. Our evolutionary makeup is based on a need to fight and survive. Our culture and media often glorify struggle and conflict. There are many theories as to why human beings sometimes seem so hyper-focused on the negative aspects of existence. Someone experiencing mental health struggles can be led into a depressive spiral of negative thoughts by any number of possible triggers-from unhelpful advice to minor relationship issues-and those negative thoughts can take on a variety of different forms. Yet, the effects of this thinking can be all too real for someone struggling with their mental health.īreaking the cycle of negative thought patterns requires learning how to cope effectively with the feelings and triggers that lead to negative thinking. Negative thought patterns, or cognitive distortions, can manifest as incorrect assumptions, unrealistic self-criticisms, and even the denial of reality itself. Is it Time for a New Integrated Care Physician? Take the Quiz.Is the Acute Psychiatric Outpatient Program Right For Me? Take the Quiz.Professional Reps: Book Your Visit to Sage.Is TMS Treatment Right for Me? Take the Quiz.Substance Use Disorder IOP Group Therapy Tracks.Is It Time for Opioid Detox? Take the Quiz.Medically Assisted Treatment & Outpatient Detox.
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