1. All or Nothing thinking.
We view things in absolute, extreme terms without any shades of grey.
2. Labelling.
We 'globally rate' ourselves , other or the universe, as opposed to rating skills deficits or specific behaviours.
3. Focusing on the negatives.
Instead of keeping life or events in perspective, we focus only on the negative aspects.
4. Discounting the positives.
We choose to reframe anything positive as unimportant.
5. Mind-reading.
We infer from people's behaviour that they are either thinking or reacting negatively towards us.
6. Fortune-telling.
We predict the worse-case scenario, often by using insufficient evidence.
7. Magnification or 'awfulling'.
We have the tendency to blow the significance of events out of proportion and make mountains out of molehills.
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8. Minimisation.
We condemn ourselves for our shortcomings and make excuses for our successes or strengths.
9. Emotional reasoning.
We evaluate situations by how we feel.
10. Blame.
Instead of taking any personal responsibilty, we blame others for problems that may have occurred.
11. 'Personalisation'.
We may blame ourselves unfairly for something for which we are not totally responsible.
12. 'Demanding-ness'.
This occurs when we hold unrealistic expectations or rigid and absolutist beliefs usually expressed as 'shoulds' , 'must', 'got tos', 'have tos' and 'oughts'.
13. 'Phoney-ism.'
We fear others may find out that we are not the person we portray.
14. 'I-can't-stand-it-itis'.
We lower our tolerances for dealing with adversity or frustrating situations by telling ourselves that ' I can't stand it' or 'I can't bear it'.
