- Catastrophizing. Predicting the worst outcome. If something goes wrong it will be a disaster. Every twinge is a sign of serious illness, every frown a sign of rejection.
- Overgeneralizing. Assuming that because something happened once, this means it will happen again.
- Exaggerating. Giving negative events more importance than they really deserve, and positive events less importance.
- Discounting the Positive. Rejecting good things as if they did not count (or using a negative filter).
- Mind Reading. Believing that you know what others are thinking.
- Predicting the Future or Fortune Telling. “Everything is bound to go wrong.” “I’ll never be able to do that sort of thing.”
- Black and White Thinking. Switching from one extreme to another. “If I can’t get this right, I might as well give up altogether.
- Taking Things Personally. “They didn’t ask me because they don’t like me.”
- Taking The Blame. Taking responsibility when it is not ours. “It’s all my fault.”
- Emotional Reasoning. Mistaking feelings for facts. “I’m so worried, I know something is going to go wrong.”
- Name Calling. “I’m an idiot.” “You’re completely heartless.”
- Scare Mongering. “Maybe she’s really ill.” “What if the car breaks down?”
- Wishful Thinking. Supposing things would be better if they were different. “If only I were…younger…thinner…smarter…not the way I am.”