5 Common Cognitive Distortions of Addicts that Prevent Addiction Recovery

All-or-nothing thinking, also known as black-and-white, is another cognitive distortion with extreme, problematic views, often perpetuating addiction and preventing recovery. This type of thinking pattern among addicts causes them to believe their only option is to get sober through complete abstinence for the rest of their life. Abstaining from substances is not invalid, but all-or-nothing thinkers take it to the extreme. Black-and-white thinkers would view sobriety as never being able to drink again or being in environments with people who drink. Writing down thoughts and feelings can be a powerful tool for self-exploration and identifying thinking errors. Journaling allows individuals to track patterns in their thinking, reflect on the consequences of their actions, and brainstorm alternative responses to challenging situations.

Addiction Group

This might include practices like mindfulness meditation, yoga, or art therapy. These approaches recognize that healing the mind often involves nurturing the body and spirit as well. For some individuals, medication-assisted treatment may be beneficial in conjunction with therapy. It’s like giving your brain a little extra support while you’re doing the hard work of cognitive restructuring. This distortion involves believing that one person’s reaction is representative of everyone’s feelings.

While some of our thoughts may be out of our control, our thought patterns are not. CBT is an essential part of a holistic addiction recovery, and works well alongside 12-step programmes. It is also recommended to supplement these methods with a variety of exercises to keep a person’s mind, body and spirit active sober house and on the right path.

There is good and bad in any situation, but people who find themselves consistently embracing the most negative interpretations of events are likely to be experiencing a cognitive distortion. The ABC method was created by psychologist Albert Ellis as a way to identify and challenge distorted thinking. Belief refers to your assumptions regarding the meaning of the incident. The consequence is the negative thoughts and emotions that occur as a result of the event. Working with a licensed mental health professional, such as a therapist or counselor, can provide personalized strategies for combating thinking errors.

Just by being aware of your thinking you can choose to challenge the thought, or find a different thought to think. Thinking healthy thoughts, instead of destructive ones, will help you feel better and make better decisions in each moment. Once you can recognize a thinking error, it’s helpful to ask questions to help you identify how these thinking errors are present in your life, and some ways you can substitute the thinking error. Black and white thinking limits your choices to find creative solutions to life’s problems. This thinking error is dangerous because it can damage relationships if you’re not willing to be open minded to new solutions or can never see more than one side of a story.

• Awfulizing keeps you in a state of being a victim, therefore giving your power of choice away.
• The thinking patterns of an addict play a significant role in maintaining or exacerbating addictive behaviors.
• This thinking error example often leads to anxiety and can trigger a relapse if you believe that disaster is inevitable.
• It overlooks the unique challenges and strengths of each individual’s journey.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most common types of therapy used in addiction treatment centers.

Overgeneralization

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• Fortunately, our Banyan Heartland team is offering some tips for managing cognitive distortions in recovery.
• You might quickly conclude that your recovery efforts are pointless or that others are judging you harshly.
• It is also recommended to supplement these methods with a variety of exercises to keep a person’s mind, body and spirit active and on the right path.
• Black and white thinking limits your choices to find creative solutions to life’s problems.

But as your brain begins to heal, and you build more time in recovery, the process gets easier. Once you’ve identified the patterns of thoughts https://www.inkl.com/news/sober-house-rules-a-comprehensive-overview you want to change, the next step is to challenge them when they occur. Most of these changes occur in the dopamine reward pathway, a group of brain structures that are responsible for learning, repeated behaviors, and anticipation.

Dual Diagnosis 101: How Mental Health Disorders and Substance Use Disorder Often go Hand in Hand

Recovering from substance use disorder is a multifaceted process involving more than abstaining from substances. It requires individuals to address and challenge their cognitive distortions, which can hinder progress and perpetuate negative beliefs. I have a fascinating topic for you today and it was one of my favorite things to learn in my own recovery process. We’re going to talk about common thinking errors – in AA they say stinking thinking – in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy it’s called cognitive errors or cognitive distortions. As we know, everybody is recovering from something- it’s just a part of life, we are exhausted and wounded and usually overwhelmed between jobs, kids, spouses, bills- it’s exhausting. And over the course of time, we create these mental filters and errors that can really take you to a negative and dark place.

Addictive Thought Patterns – What They Are + How To Break Them

When addictive thinking is present, the harmful consequences of using drugs or alcohol do not outweigh the euphoric effects produced. Addictive thinking needs to be addressed in a drug rehab center for substance abuse treatment as this behavior and thought patterns can still be present even after addiction treatment. One of the most effective therapeutic tools for changing these thinking patterns is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT. CBT helps people to become more aware of their emotions and responses to situations, providing them with the training and tools to cope with difficult situations more effectively.

Catastrophizing is a cognitive distortion that exaggerates situations and imagines the worst possible outcomes. This type of thinking is common in those with mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and addiction. A catastrophizing thinker as an addict, for example, imagines that if they try to get sober, things will only get worse for them physically, emotionally, and mentally. Another example of catastrophizing thinking would be someone in recovery fearing the idea of relapse because it will ruin their recovery process entirely. Expecting the worse outcome in every situation causes addicts to live in fear and holds them back from experiencing and enjoying life in recovery.

Overcoming Thinking Errors in Addiction

It’s crucial to recognize these patterns and understand how they relate to the cognitive behavioral model of addiction. Acknowledging cognitive distortions is crucial for challenging and changing them. Once recognized, question the validity of these thoughts and look for evidence that contradicts them. Have you ever found yourself trapped in a loop of negative thoughts, where everything seems bleak and overwhelming? Many people experience this, often due to cognitive distortions—unhelpful thought patterns that can skew our perception of reality.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

• Individuals can empower their recovery and achieve lasting change by cultivating self-compassion, embracing a balanced perspective, and developing resilience.
• This example of cognitive distortions overgeneralization involves taking one period of difficulty and applying it to the future indefinitely.
• The usage pattern may be daily, before certain tasks, or as a reaction to various triggers.
• This can be achieved through therapy, support groups, or self-help resources.
• The idea is to look for patterns of negative thoughts and the resulting actions.
• Severe judgments about yourself or other people can lead to unfair evaluations.

These errors are not exclusive to any one group; they’re a universal aspect of human cognition. However, their impact can vary significantly depending on their frequency and intensity. In the next sections, we’ll delve into what causes these distortions, the problems they can lead to, and their specific manifestation in the realm of addiction. When your thoughts are slipping towards relapse and you’ve challenged whether they truly serve you, it’s time to take contrary action. These are just a few examples – and the thought patterns holding you back could be totally different. Some people struggle with shame and guilt, while others hold a sense of superiority or inferiority that blocks them from achieving recovery.

SO- no more talking about it or thinking about it, let’s get into action and create some amazing change we can feel proud of. We provide detoxification treatment, constant support, and focused one-on-one CBT sessions to bring each client back to a healthy state of mind. Our therapists help every client learn useful techniques to push away harmful mindsets, and embrace a pattern of constructive beliefs and attitudes on the road to recovery. The all-consuming nature of addictive drugs on the brain, combined with lowered inhibition and rational decision making, has been correlated with increases in crime. With the help of an accredited addiction treatment facility, patients can break free from the cycle of addiction to regain focus and passion for the things they once enjoyed. For example, a 2010 study in the United States revealed that 70% of male prisoners used drugs, and can be correlated with the prevalence of substance use in men’s social lives, particularly alcohol.