15 Common Cognitive Distortions (Updated With Examples)

A similar diagram is in the book, "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Made Simple: 10 Strategies for Managing Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Panic, and Worry" by Seth J. Gillihan. (I found this diagram to have the best descriptions when doing an image search. Sorry about the overlay about the paid version to remove the mark though. ) Update: I decided to give an example for each one: Catastrophizing Someone is preparing for a job interview. They start thinking, "What if I completely mess up? They'll think I'm incompetent, and I'll never get a job. I'll end up ruining my career and won't be able to support myself." This thought spiral escalates a single event – a challenging interview – into a disastrous, life-altering scenario without evidence. "Should" Statements Someone might think, "Life should always reward hard work and good intentions. If it doesn’t, then life is cruel and meaningless." While it's natural to f...