In March 2026, I noted that all-or-nothing thinking was a recurring trap for me. The broader list came from common descriptions of cognitive distortions.
The list includes catastrophizing, all-or-nothing thinking, mind reading, personalization, overgeneralization, mental filtering, rigid “should” statements, emotional reasoning, labeling, discounting positives, fortune telling, and unhelpful comparison.
Naming a pattern may create distance from it. It does not seal a leak, override emotion, or prevent harm. Context matters, and persistent distress may deserve qualified support rather than self-debugging language.
For me, the practical sequence is modest: notice the thought, test it against available evidence, consider another interpretation, and choose the next proportionate action.
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