Cognitive Distortions Worksheets are a great tool in the battle for mental wellness. Understanding your thoughts, reasoning, and rational responsse are essential tools. Especially when you are in the midst of an episode. This is something Mikey did all the time. I am posting this so you understand the internal battle. Not only did he do the work, he talked about it with us… endlessly. He wanted to figure it out. I can’t even imagine how exhausting it is to do this kind of battle with your own mind.
| Automatic Thoughts | Cognitive Distortion | Rational Response |
| I have no control over this | All or nothing, jumping to conclusions | There are things I can do to prevent “episodes” – even if “cure” is unlikely. |
| There is nothing I can do except wait for the meds to kick in | Emotional Reasoning | You can do exercises like these, eat right, workout, play cards |
| I can never have a job, be a father or husband, or move away from home | Emotional Reasoning | You have an illness which makes your view of the world with cynicism |
| I’m going to die young | Fortune Teller | You’re physcially healthy, eat right, and you can heal the spirit |
| The future dwindles away on me | Emotional Reasoning | Other people don’t have “real” perceptions of their futures, and mine just shrinks because of the illness |
| I’m useless, a waste of education, because I couldn’t even keep a schedule right now | Labeling, Emotional Reasoning | I can do some things, and I don’t need to keep a schedule right now |
| I’m so fucked up | Labeling, Emotional Reasoning | I’m sick, and all I can see are the negatives. When i’m not sick, i’m pretty happy most of the time |
