I am doing this most of the time. For example i went to Milano this weekend. All my friends cheered for me and said: you did it!! Wow!
But i always add a: BUT i had symptoms all the time.
I see that i engage in my life again but still desperate, because i do everything with a lot of effort and self- coaching, so even the holiday in Milano was exhausting, when it meant to be fun.
I definitely do this! Thanks for another great lesson. I feel like I’m finally feeling better and seeing that I am healing and recovering even if I’m not without symptoms on some days. Thanks Drew!
Guilty as charged Drew, you’ve done it again, another on-the-money episode👍🏼 One of those issues for me where the more you become aware of these thinking distortions in your own head, the more of them you discover! (the constant self-analysis can almost wear you down lol but got to keep determined as if you don’t call it out, you can’t take steps to change it). Currently reading a useful book on Social Anxiety by Alison McKleroy who goes into a bit of detail about cognitive distortions, with polarisation just one of a number of thinking biases as Drew notes here - apparently Wikipedia lists at least 100 with more being ‘discovered’😩 My personal two biggest B&W thinking stumbling blocks include sub-conscious attitudes/judgements about other people, as well as other people’s perceptions about me eg. “that person’s an utter idiot” (in fact, they might be semi decent & just having a bad day… & don’t we all have bad days) or “my contribution to the meeting was silly, or not taken seriously and I shouldn’t have spoken up at all” (in fact I might have fluffed my words slightly but I’m sure I got the point across & it matters that at least I contributed) or “everyone’s scrutinising me/finding fault and so I need to be perfect” (in fact maybe some are, maybe they aren’t, but ‘good enough’ is just fine and what others think doesn’t matter a whole lot anyhow) or “my life will never be successful or result in anything meaningful” (in fact, I’ve had both positive & negative life experiences, like most, and only I get to define what success or a meaningful life represents to me) or “the UK government are all complete morons” (yes some of them totally are, but others are well intentioned, it’s a big job shouldering a lot of responsibilities, at least I’m lucky enough to live in a democracy) etc etc. I’ve recently started using a very helpful line wherever I catch my own critical B&W thinking, both at macro and micro level: “It’s not all good. But it’s not all bad”.😊
Yes I think everyone has felt that way once or twice possibly more often 😂 I myself have I know for sure i would allow myself to bully myself into thinking I would never be recovered my life would just be anxiety day in and day out I’ll never be able to do the things I once before because of allowing anxiety to scare me into thinking I’m going to lose it. But thanks to you I’ve actually understand what’s going on it’s not actually going to happen I won’t go crazy if I drive to a grocery store or take the kids to school I’ll just be uncomfortable and no one likes to feel uncomfortable but I must allow that feeling so brain can understand that what I’m showing it isn’t real danger so the next time the uncomfortable feelings won’t be there or will subside after I allow and engage in what I’m doing without giving my fear the spot light like I have in these past months, also I see no more setbacks I won’t use that word. we are all allowed a bad day we shouldn’t give it spot light either, because tomorrow is always a fresh start to a better day. Thanks drew I’m truly lucky to have found you and all you do for everyone!!!
Cognitive distortions have been tricky for me. They can be tricky to identify. They also have made me less confident in my thoughts, which feels scary.
This reminds me of a comment you made that has stuck with me when I first started listening to your content: I can feel afraid and be calm at the same time. Really? Are you sure? The resounding answer is yes, and little by little this new awareness has helped me carve out space within myself to see progress even when I do an exposure practice and the uncomfortable sensations are still there.
I am doing this most of the time. For example i went to Milano this weekend. All my friends cheered for me and said: you did it!! Wow!
But i always add a: BUT i had symptoms all the time.
I see that i engage in my life again but still desperate, because i do everything with a lot of effort and self- coaching, so even the holiday in Milano was exhausting, when it meant to be fun.
I should bot downplay it, i know.
I definitely do this! Thanks for another great lesson. I feel like I’m finally feeling better and seeing that I am healing and recovering even if I’m not without symptoms on some days. Thanks Drew!
Guilty as charged Drew, you’ve done it again, another on-the-money episode👍🏼 One of those issues for me where the more you become aware of these thinking distortions in your own head, the more of them you discover! (the constant self-analysis can almost wear you down lol but got to keep determined as if you don’t call it out, you can’t take steps to change it). Currently reading a useful book on Social Anxiety by Alison McKleroy who goes into a bit of detail about cognitive distortions, with polarisation just one of a number of thinking biases as Drew notes here - apparently Wikipedia lists at least 100 with more being ‘discovered’😩 My personal two biggest B&W thinking stumbling blocks include sub-conscious attitudes/judgements about other people, as well as other people’s perceptions about me eg. “that person’s an utter idiot” (in fact, they might be semi decent & just having a bad day… & don’t we all have bad days) or “my contribution to the meeting was silly, or not taken seriously and I shouldn’t have spoken up at all” (in fact I might have fluffed my words slightly but I’m sure I got the point across & it matters that at least I contributed) or “everyone’s scrutinising me/finding fault and so I need to be perfect” (in fact maybe some are, maybe they aren’t, but ‘good enough’ is just fine and what others think doesn’t matter a whole lot anyhow) or “my life will never be successful or result in anything meaningful” (in fact, I’ve had both positive & negative life experiences, like most, and only I get to define what success or a meaningful life represents to me) or “the UK government are all complete morons” (yes some of them totally are, but others are well intentioned, it’s a big job shouldering a lot of responsibilities, at least I’m lucky enough to live in a democracy) etc etc. I’ve recently started using a very helpful line wherever I catch my own critical B&W thinking, both at macro and micro level: “It’s not all good. But it’s not all bad”.😊
Yes I think everyone has felt that way once or twice possibly more often 😂 I myself have I know for sure i would allow myself to bully myself into thinking I would never be recovered my life would just be anxiety day in and day out I’ll never be able to do the things I once before because of allowing anxiety to scare me into thinking I’m going to lose it. But thanks to you I’ve actually understand what’s going on it’s not actually going to happen I won’t go crazy if I drive to a grocery store or take the kids to school I’ll just be uncomfortable and no one likes to feel uncomfortable but I must allow that feeling so brain can understand that what I’m showing it isn’t real danger so the next time the uncomfortable feelings won’t be there or will subside after I allow and engage in what I’m doing without giving my fear the spot light like I have in these past months, also I see no more setbacks I won’t use that word. we are all allowed a bad day we shouldn’t give it spot light either, because tomorrow is always a fresh start to a better day. Thanks drew I’m truly lucky to have found you and all you do for everyone!!!
Drew… Seven Percent Slower… this podcast sounds like it’s on fast forward. Lordy I can’t follow so early…
Cognitive distortions have been tricky for me. They can be tricky to identify. They also have made me less confident in my thoughts, which feels scary.
This reminds me of a comment you made that has stuck with me when I first started listening to your content: I can feel afraid and be calm at the same time. Really? Are you sure? The resounding answer is yes, and little by little this new awareness has helped me carve out space within myself to see progress even when I do an exposure practice and the uncomfortable sensations are still there.
Used to do this a lot more than before. Originally it was with everything, it is now a few things that I still have trouble with.
Some of mine are being a good husband and parent. Also am I doing enough to help out.
Wow this is exactly what I do. Either I’m close to recovering or back at square 1 and will never recover.
Goes to show how this line of thinking robs us from the true successes in the process.
Really enjoying these cognitive distortion episodes!! Would love to learn more