Understanding Thinking Traps
Thinking traps are patterns of thought that can distort our view of reality and lead to unnecessary emotional distress. Explore each category below to learn how to identify and challenge these common cognitive distortions.
Perception Distortions
All-or-Nothing Thinking
Seeing things in black and white categories without middle ground
Learn more about this trap →Mind Reading
Assuming you know what others are thinking without evidence
Learn more about this trap →Expectation Traps
Should Statements
Holding rigid rules about how things "should" or "must" be
Learn more about this trap →Attribution Errors
Labeling
Attaching fixed labels to yourself or others based on behavior
Learn more about this trap →Additional Thinking Traps
Magnification & Minimization
Exaggerating negatives, minimizing positives
Learn more about this trap →Just World Fallacy
Believing good things happen to good people and vice versa
Learn more about this trap →How to Use This Guide
Browse through the descriptions to identify which thinking traps feel familiar to you.
Click through to learn more about each trap and discover strategies to challenge them.
Practice identifying these patterns in your daily thoughts to build awareness.