Many different articles, books and scientific papers have been written about cognitive distortions today. And this is not surprising, because it is difficult to overestimate the scale of their influence on our thinking and perception. In this article I will look at common mistakes that arise in stressful situations and complicate their living. But first, a short excursion for those who do not know what cognitive distortions are, why they are needed and how their influence determines not only our thinking, but also as a result, emotions and behavior. Cognitive distortions are a feature that makes it easier for our brain to cope with problems. The brain does not always correctly evaluate and interpret information based on existing data. After all, you will agree that it is easier to derive old interpretations than to analyze new inputs. Therefore, for reasons of saving resources, the brain automatically displays ready-made conclusions on our perception screen. Bypassing complex analysis, filling in the gaps in the data with existing stereotypes, subjective and emotional factors, knowledge. In principle, the ability to save resources is a useful skill, isn’t it? However, if this process is left unattended, it can lead to very sad consequences. A distorted perception of reality leads to erroneous conclusions and poor decisions. When cognitive errors distort reality in a negative way, this becomes the cause of stress, depression, and anxiety. Needless to say, in difficult, crisis situations, and under stress, cognitive distortions increase maladaptation. Human thinking becomes more rigid. This leads to increased irritability and aggressiveness, which in turn gives rise to suspicion and the need to blame someone for your misfortunes. Of course, this complicates communication with other people and causes alienation and loneliness. Therefore, it is important to learn to identify cognitive distortions in your thinking. So, the most common mistakes under stress conditions are: Dichotomous thinking All-or-nothing thinking. Maximalism, in which everything is assessed from extreme positions. This kind of thinking is also called “black and white”; it tries to simplify complex situations, dividing them into two extreme categories. For example: “It’s now or never”, “Nothing matters, everything has already happened”, “He’s either my friend or my enemy” "Catastrophizing Worst-case scenario thinking. Exaggerated, inflated predictions of the negative consequences of an event. Any trouble is experienced as an inevitable disaster. Something that happened or will happen is so terrible that it cannot be endured. For example: “He doesn’t answer, something terrible probably happened to him,” “We are all going to die,” “He has a headache, most likely it’s a brain tumor.” Ought Dogmatic , a rigid idea of ​​what the world, the people around us, and the person himself should be. An attempt to control the world around us by judging it through one’s own standards. For example: “This shouldn’t have happened,” “I should be strong,” “People should be more attentive.” Mind reading First option: a person is convinced that he knows about thoughts , motives, feelings of another person. In the second option, a person believes that other people know what he is thinking. For example: “It’s all written on his face,” “Everyone else is experiencing this easier than me,” “They could have guessed how bad I feel.” Devaluation of positive Thinking , in which positive experience and success are not given importance. This is a tendency to constantly belittle good events, to look for negative moments. For example: “Everyone can do this,” “I did it because I was lucky.” It is not within our power to completely get rid of cognitive distortions, but we can reduce their impact on our lives. Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy helps with this. Contact us and together we will find an opportunity to make your life better and clearer.