Answer: All-or-nothing thinking is a cognitive distortion where a person sees things in black and white, with no middle ground. This type of thinking leads to a person perceiving things as either completely good or completely bad, with no shades of gray in between. For example, a person might believe that if they don't do something perfectly, it's a failure and not worth doing at all. This kind of thinking can lead to feelings of defeat and low self-esteem.
Overgeneralization is a cognitive distortion where a person takes one negative experience and applies it to all similar experiences. For example, if a person has a bad experience at a restaurant, they may generalize that all restaurants are bad and avoid going out to eat. This type of thinking leads to negative feelings and limiting beliefs.
Jumping to conclusions is a cognitive distortion where a person makes assumptions or draws conclusions without evidence. This can involve assuming that others are thinking or feeling a certain way, or predicting the outcome of a situation without sufficient evidence. For example, if a friend is late for a meeting, a person may jump to the conclusion that their friend doesn't care about them and is purposely trying to hurt their feelings.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) aims to change cognitive distortions by teaching individuals to recognize these types of thinking patterns and to challenge and change them. CBT helps individuals to understand that their thoughts and beliefs have an impact on their feelings and behavior. The therapy works by helping individuals to identify and question negative thoughts and beliefs, and to replace them with more balanced and rational thinking. CBT helps individuals to develop new ways of thinking and behaving that promote better mental health and well-being.