Distorted Thinking

Distorted Thinking 

“Whether you are an addict or the partner of an addict, faulty beliefs can have a huge impact on how you feel about yourself. As a result, you may have a lifelong history of distorted thinking that perpetuates the addictive process for both you and your partner. When you resort to rationalization and justification, the result is that you may be living in a state of denial. Denial is what you tell yourself so that you won't have to feel pain. You may feel you won't have to deal with your own issues if you focus on people and problems outside of yourself. Distorted thinking keeps you in denial and prevents you from getting the help you need.” (from LifeSTAR Network Beginnings Phase for Partners Workbook 1, written by Dan Gray, LCSW and Todd Olson, LCSW page 13)

Here are further explanations of distorted thinking taken from this website: See if you can recognize when you're thinking is distorted. Begin to challenge your distorted thinking.

 

 *From Thoughts & Feelings by McKay, Davis, & Fanning. New Harbinger, 1981. These styles of thinking (or cognitive distortions) were gleaned from the work of several authors, including Albert Ellis, Aaron Beck, and David Burns, among others.