The Powerful Role of Cognitive Thinking Errors in Addiction

17 de maio de 2021 por Adriano Marques in Sober Living

Journaling or jotting down your negative thoughts and feelings is also another part of the ABC method. Individuals are encouraged to begin with C, the sober house consequence, and then work their way back to identify A, the activating event. It’s a great way to organize thoughts on paper and identify the irrational belief in the situation; this is the goal when it comes to realizing and overcoming cognitive distortions. It’s all part of the journey towards developing healthier addiction replacement behaviors. Each twist and turn represents a thought pattern, some leading to clarity and others to confusion.

Common Cognitive Distortions That Fuel Negative Thinking

This type of thinking leaves no room for a middle ground, often resulting in feelings of inadequacy. Stay up-to-date with relevant counseling best practices, treatment approaches, and general addiction recovery field news. Stay up-to-date with changes in the addiction recovery field, new illicit drug trends, treatment modalities, and new addiction counselor training opportunities. Because for the addicted brain to fire all of those things, the situation has to be bigger and more dramatic. I often hear family members say addicts are addicted to drama and chaos, and there’s some truth to that- because for my brain to wake up and fire, it has to be more dramatic. Understanding the relationship between our thought patterns and addiction is one of the main components for success in long-term recovery.

Awaken to a New Life.

Mental filtering is the tendency to dwell on the negative aspects of a situation while ignoring the positives. Imagine receiving feedback at work where one point is critical while the rest are positive. If you fixate solely on the criticism, you’re engaging in mental filtering. This distortion can warp your perception of reality, making it appear far bleaker than it actually is. Being stuck in the polarizing black and white thought patterns keep you in an exaggerated reality. But there is often a middle ground, a more balanced view of a situation or event.

Tips on How to Cope with Cognitive Distortions in Addiction Recovery

  • It’s unlikely that all others in your life will consider you first and above all else.
  • Belief refers to your assumptions regarding the meaning of the incident.
  • If you call yourself “stupid,” “lazy,” “a loser,” or other derogatory labels, you reinforce the need to use a substance in order to numb these negative feelings.
  • These cannot include the all-or-nothing words and have to provide an alternative consideration.
  • But when the expectation of failure becomes a habit or an instinct, the brain gets stuck in a rut of negativity and has a difficult time finding a way out.

While it may seem daunting at first, remember that you don’t have to do it alone. This thinking error assumes that current negative emotions will persist indefinitely. It ignores the possibility of emotional growth and the positive changes that can come with recovery.

#2: Say Goodbye to Black and White Thinking

While blame may be appropriate in many situations, there is a real possibility of blowing it out of proportion. People experiencing cognitive distortions are much more likely to latch on to the idea of assigning responsibility for failure, and take it too far. Irrespective of the individual, addiction may cause people to act out of character. Drug-seeking behavior induced by cravings and withdrawal symptoms and structural changes in the brain cause a series of negative behavioral traits.

20 common thinking errors of addicts

Sherry Gaba, LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist/author specializing in addictions, codependency, and underlying issues such as depression, trauma, and anxiety. Be creative – once you that establish you are engaging in all-or-nothing thinking, try to come up with at least two gray-area statements. These cannot include the all-or-nothing words and have to provide an alternative consideration. Identify never, always, cannot and all absolute statements – listen to your thoughts and identify when you are using the all-or-nothing words. When you hear these words in your thoughts, ask yourself if this is really true or is this all-or-nothing thinking.

After the development of addiction, individuals cannot voluntarily function without substance use, and addictive behaviour persists despite several harmful physical and interpersonal repercussions. At this stage, neurological changes occur in the brain, leading to high-level dependence, making it challenging to stop substance use. These distortions can be caused by insecurity, self-doubt, negative thoughts, and more. Our center for addiction treatment in Gilman is aware of these distortions and is sharing more information about what they are and how recovering addicts can overcome them.

  • Addiction is fueled by isolation and distrust from family members, employees, employers and friends.
  • Making a social mistake can be unhelpful, and having a drink when you promised not to can be a setback.
  • Awfulizing is the feeling that life is unbearable when things do not go as planned.
  • The Robert Alexander Center for Recovery is a brand new, state-of-the-art addiction treatment center in Kentucky, offering evidence-based treatment for substance abuse.

It dismisses the possibility of recovery and personal growth, no matter how long someone has struggled with addiction. Overgeneralization can cause individuals to believe that a single incident of disappointment will forever define their relationships. Overgeneralization can lead to harmful comparisons with others, fostering feelings of inadequacy and shame.

20 common thinking errors of addicts

If you make a mistake, you might label yourself as “stupid,” reinforcing negative self-perceptions. To combat this, try to recognize the gray areas in situations and focus on progress rather than perfection. For several reasons—whether self-medication, stress or impulsivity—many people start abusing drugs and alcohol as a coping method. Although drugs and alcohol might seem like only a temporary solution, they quickly become a primary source of relief.

Myth: Prescription Drugs Are Safer than Illicit Drugs

The thinking patterns of an addict play a significant role in maintaining or exacerbating addictive behaviors. When an addict has negative or irrational thoughts about addiction, also known as cognitive distortion, this hinders recovery. Our thoughts can lift us or tear us down, and cognitive distortions will only fuel our anxiety and push us closer to substance abuse. Whether you’re in addiction recovery or not, you may recognize some negative thought patterns on this list of cognitive distortions. It’s common to experience these negative thoughts and assumptions while recovering from an addiction.

While self-help strategies are valuable, sometimes we need to call in the professionals. https://www.inkl.com/news/sober-house-rules-a-comprehensive-overview Think of it like hiring a personal trainer for your mind – they have the expertise to guide you through the toughest mental workouts. Counteract this by consciously acknowledging positive aspects and seeking a balanced view of each situation. By recognizing these errors in thinking, you can work towards retraining your mind to process information more accurately and positively.

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