08/17/2026
Are Your Thoughts Making You Feel Worse? 8 Common Cognitive Distortions
Have you ever had a bad day and thought, “Of course this happened. Everything always goes wrong for me”?
Or made one small mistake and immediately thought, “I’m such an idiot”?
Or sent a text to someone and, when they didn’t respond, assumed, “They’re mad at me.”
These thoughts can feel completely true in the moment. But sometimes, our minds fall into predictable patterns that make situations seem worse, more threatening, or more personal than they actually are.
In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), these patterns are called cognitive distortions.
Cognitive distortions are habitual ways of interpreting situations that can contribute to anxiety, depression, self-criticism, and other forms of emotional distress. Everyone experiences them from time to time—especially when we’re stressed, overwhelmed, or upset.
The goal isn’t to eliminate negative thoughts or force yourself to “think positive.” Instead, CBT helps you notice these patterns, question them, and develop a more balanced way of looking at what’s happening.
Here are eight common cognitive distortions you might recognize in your own thinking. Check out our blog for more info on each cognitive distortion, and what to do with them. Link in bio.