THINKING ERRORS
📢
"I always mess things up."
Sadness, anxiety, hopelessness
Overgeneralization
Drawing broad conclusions based on a single event or limited evidence.
Past negative experiences, catastrophizing, all-or-nothing thinking.
Making sweeping generalizations, assuming the worst, self-criticism.
Challenge negative thoughts, look for exceptions, focus on specific evidence.
Defeated, worthless
Avoid using words like "always" or "never."
Remind yourself of your successes and strengths.
Low self-esteem, avoidance behavior.
💯
"I have to be perfect."
Anxiety, stress
Perfectionism
Striving for flawlessness and setting excessively high standards.
Fear of failure, criticism, or disapproval.
Overworking, procrastination, avoidance of challenges
Set realistic goals, prioritize self-care, practice self-compassion.
Inadequate
Celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small.
Accept that perfection is unattainable.
Workaholism, procrastination
🫵
"They're laughing at me."
Sensitivity, defensiveness, self-consciousness
Personalization
Taking things personally when they're not
Assuming that everything is about you
Projection, displacement, blaming others
Challenge your assumptions. Ask for clarification.
Like you're always under scrutiny
Take deep breaths. Relax your body.
Practice mindfulness. Stay in the present moment.
Withdrawal, isolation, people-pleasing
🦚
"I'm better than everyone else."
Arrogance, egotism
Pride
Exaggerated sense of self-worth and superiority.
Narcissism, arrogance, lack of empathy.
Dismissiveness, lack of self-awareness, inability to take feedback
Cultivate humility, practice empathy, be open to feedback.
Superior
Treat others with respect and kindness.
Acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses.
Narcissism, arrogance
👋 🚫
"I'm not good enough."
Sadness, loneliness, hurt
Rejection
Feeling unwelcome or unloved.
Being turned down for a job, relationship, or social invitation.
Isolation, withdrawal, self-blame
Seek reassurance from supportive people; focus on your self-worth.
Unworthy, unwanted
Don't take rejection personally; keep trying.
Spend time with people who love and appreciate you.
Social isolation
"Everyone is looking at me."
Anxiety, embarrassment
Self-Consciousness
Excessive awareness of oneself and how one is perceived by others.
Social anxiety, low self-esteem, fear of judgment.
Social withdrawal, avoidance of attention, self-criticism.
Practice self-acceptance, challenge negative thoughts, therapy.
Awkward
Engage in social situations gradually.
Focus on the present moment, not on others' opinions.
Social anxiety
💔👤
"I hate myself."
Shame, disgust, self-loathing
Self-Hatred
Intense dislike or hatred towards oneself.
Trauma, abuse, internalized negative messages.
Self-harm, addiction, isolation.
Therapy, self-compassion, challenging negative self-talk.
Worthless
Seek professional help if needed.
Practice self-love and acceptance.
Self-destructive behavior
😢
"Why does this always happen to me?"
Sadness, resentment
Self-Pity
Excessive focus on one's own suffering and misfortunes.
Low self-esteem, narcissism, victim mentality.
Playing the victim, seeking attention, refusing help
Practice gratitude, focus on
Victimized
Victim mentality
😳
"I'm a bad person."
Humiliation, self-loathing
Shame
Deep sense of inadequacy and unworthiness.
Past mistakes, trauma, or negative experiences.
Isolation, withdrawal, self-harm
Seek professional help, practice self-compassion, challenge negative self-talk.
Worthless
Surround yourself with supportive people.
Remind yourself of your inherent worth.
Social isolation, self-harm
🦥
"I don't want to do anything."
Apathy, lethargy
Sloth
Laziness, apathy, and lack of motivation.
Lack of goals, depression, low energy levels.
Procrastination, avoidance of responsibility, neglecting duties
Set goals, break tasks into smaller steps, find sources of motivation.
Unmotivated
Reward yourself for accomplishments.
Find activities you enjoy.
Laziness, procrastination
"I'm better off alone."
Loneliness, sadness
Social Isolation
Withdrawal from social interactions and relationships.
Depression, social anxiety, lack of social skills.
Avoiding social situations, spending excessive time alone.
Join social groups, volunteer, seek professional help.
Alone
Make an effort to connect with others.
Reach out to friends and family.
Social withdrawal
🤨
"I can't trust anyone."
Anxiety, distrust
Suspicion
General mistrust of others and their motives.
Past betrayals, trauma, negative experiences.
Hypervigilance, isolation, difficulty forming relationships.
Build trust gradually, challenge suspicious thoughts, therapy.
Wary
Give people the benefit of the doubt.
Focus on positive relationships.
Social isolation
💔🤝
"I can't trust anyone."
Suspicion, anxiety
Trust Issues
Difficulty trusting others due to past betrayals or negative experiences.
Infidelity, broken promises, childhood trauma.
Difficulty forming close relationships, guardedness, cynicism.
Build trust gradually, communicate openly, therapy.
Wary
Give people the benefit of the doubt.
Focus on positive relationships.
Relationship problems
🪞
"I'm the best."
Arrogance, self-centeredness
Vanity
Excessive pride in one's appearance or accomplishments.
Narcissism, social comparison, need for validation.
Boastfulness, seeking attention, dismissiveness of others.
Practice humility, gratitude, focus on inner qualities.
Superior
Treat others with respect and kindness.
Appreciate your own strengths without comparing yourself to others.
Narcissistic behavior
🗑️
"I'm worthless."
Sadness, despair
Worthlessness
Belief that one has no value or purpose.
Depression, trauma, negative self-beliefs.
Self-neglect, isolation, self-harm.
Therapy, self-compassion, challenge negative self-talk.
Empty
Seek professional help if needed.
Practice self-love and acceptance.
Depression, self-harm
🫵
"I should have done better."
Guilt, shame, frustration
"Should" Statements
Rigid rules about how you or others "should" behave.
Perfectionism, high expectations, criticism.
Self-criticism, criticism of others, resentment.
Challenge rigid expectations, practice flexibility.
Disappointed
Accept that everyone makes mistakes.
Be kind to yourself and others.
Perfectionism, resentment.
⚖️
"I'm either a complete success or a total failure."
Frustration, anger, despair
All-or-Nothing Thinking
Thinking in extremes, with no middle ground
Seeing things as either perfect or terrible, with no shades of gray
Denial, splitting, projection
Break things down into smaller, more manageable steps. Focus on progress, not perfection.
Like you're on a roller coaster of emotions
Take small steps towards your goals. Surround yourself with supportive people.
Practice mindfulness and self-compassion. Challenge your negative thoughts.
Perfectionism, procrastination, avoidance
👓
"I'm always right, and they're always wrong."
Defensiveness, arrogance
Always Being Right
The need to always be right, even at the expense of relationships.
Pride, insecurity, fear of vulnerability.
Argumentativeness, dismissing others' opinions, inability to apologize.
Practice humility, be open to feedback, admit when you're wrong.
Inflexible, superior
Listen to others' perspectives, be willing to compromise.
Be open to learning and growing.
Rigidity, conflict, damaged relationships.
☯️
"It's either perfect or a failure."
Frustration, disappointment
Black-and-White Thinking
Seeing things in extremes, with no middle ground.
Perfectionism, rigid thinking, lack of nuance.
All-or-nothing thinking, polarized views, difficulty compromising.
Practice nuance and flexibility, see the gray areas.
Extreme
Be open to different perspectives.
Accept imperfection and compromise.
Perfectionism, rigidity.
🌋
"This is the worst thing that could happen."
Fear, anxiety, despair
Catastrophizing
Exaggerating the negative consequences of events.
Anxiety, pessimism, past negative experiences.
Avoidance, withdrawal, self-sabotage.
Challenge catastrophic thoughts, focus on realistic outcomes.
Overwhelmed
Seek professional help if needed.
Practice relaxation techniques, mindfulness.
Anxiety, avoidance behavior.
🕹️
"I'm responsible for everything." or "I can't do anything."
Anxiety, guilt, helplessness
Control Fallacy
Believing you have complete control over events or that you are powerless to change anything.
Anxiety, need for control, learned helplessness.
Micromanagement, avoidance, self-sabotage.
Focus on what you can control, practice acceptance.
Powerless or responsible
Seek support and delegate tasks.
Let go of things you can't control.
Anxiety, burnout, learned helplessness.
🪞
"I'm not pretty enough."
Shame, insecurity, self-doubt
Critique of Appearance
Negative comments about one's looks or body image.
Comments from others or media exposure.
Obsessive dieting, excessive exercise, social withdrawal
Cultivate body positivity; focus on personal strengths.
Unattractive, inadequate
Challenge negative thoughts about your appearance.
Practice self-acceptance and self-love.
Body image issues
😭
"There's no point in going on."
Hopelessness, emptiness
Despair
Complete loss of hope and belief in a positive future.
Severe depression, trauma, or prolonged suffering.
Suicidal thoughts, self-harm, withdrawal from others
Seek professional help immediately, reach out to loved ones, focus on self-care.
Despairing
There is help available.
Remember that you are not alone.
Depression, suicide
❤️🔥
"I feel angry, so I must be right."
Impulsiveness, recklessness, self-destructive behavior
Emotional Reasoning
Believing that your emotions are always true and that they reflect reality
Letting your feelings control your thoughts and actions
Acting on impulse, making poor decisions, lashing out at others
Practice mindfulness. Stay in the present moment.
Like you're at the mercy of your emotions
Take deep breaths. Relax your body.
Challenge your emotions. Don't let them control you.
👑
"I deserve this."
Arrogance, resentment
Entitlement
Belief that one deserves special treatment or privileges without earning them.
Narcissism, spoiled upbringing, lack of empathy.
Demanding behavior, manipulation, exploitation of others.
Practice gratitude, empathy, and humility.
Superior
Treat others with respect and fairness.
Recognize the contributions of others.
Narcissistic behavior
❌
"I can't do anything right."
Disappointment, shame, guilt
Failure
Fear of not meeting expectations or disappointing others.
Missing deadlines or not achieving goals.
Procrastination, avoidance, giving up
Redefine failure as a learning opportunity and embrace a growth mindset.
Like a failure, discouraged
Learn from your mistakes and try again.
Focus on your effort and progress, not just the outcome.
Self-sabotage
➡️
"They need to change for me to be happy."
Frustration, resentment, disappointment
Fallacy of Change
Believing others must change for you to be happy.
Codependency, controlling tendencies, unrealistic expectations.
Trying to control others, giving ultimatums, emotional manipulation.
Focus on what you can control, accept others' limitations.
Powerless, let down
Set healthy boundaries, communicate your needs assertively.
Practice acceptance and self-reliance.
Controlling behavior, relationship conflicts.
🔮
"I'm going to fail."
Fear, anxiety, hopelessness
Fortune Telling
Predicting negative outcomes without evidence.
Anxiety, pessimism, past negative experiences.
Avoidance, procrastination, self-sabotage.
Challenge negative predictions, focus on the present moment.
Defeated
Take action towards your goals.
Practice optimism and positive self-talk.
Procrastination, self-sabotage.
🤴
"I'm better than everyone else."
Arrogance, superiority
Grandiosity
Inflated sense of self-importance and uniqueness.
Narcissism, success, lack of feedback.
Boastfulness, dismissiveness, lack of empathy.
Seek feedback, practice humility, recognize the strengths of others.
Special
Treat others with respect and equality.
Be mindful of your accomplishments and limitations.
Narcissistic behavior