Day 3: Common Thinking Traps![]() We should trust our own thoughts at all times, right? Not exactly. Sometimes our brain plays tricks on us. Cognitive distortions are thought patterns that cause us to perceive reality through a skewed perception - usually a negative one. These thinking errors then often trigger feelings of pessimism. Those feelings of pessimism, over time, can give way to increased levels of anxiety and sadness. It's literally a domino effect! But how do you know if you've been falling into thinking traps? Below are nine common cognitive distortions with a food allergy spin. Do you find yourself commonly using one....or more? Find the thinking traps therapeutic worksheet hereThis list of thinking traps isn't a complete one - here are additional cognitive distortions. So now that you've identified which food allergy-related thinking traps you typically fall into, what can you do about it? Challenge Them - This is exactly as it sounds. You're going to challenge your thoughts to a duel! Think of yourself as a private investigator, whose job it is to find evidence to confirm that the negative thoughts in your brain aren't true. That evidence then becomes the weapon you'll use to fight back against the negative thoughts. In the emotional reasoning example where the faulty thought is "If I feel incapable of managing food allergies, then I must be incapable!", you're looking for evidence to support the opposite - that you're more capable than you think. Even if the evidence isn't food allergy-specific, it's still applicable. (Here is a brief video from University of Toronto on challenging thinking traps, and a helpful chart to use to help you challenge cognitive distortions). Self-Talk - Once you've identified the thinking traps and attempted to challenge them, you'll want to create positive self-talk. (Yes, it's okay to talk to yourself, either aloud or in your own head). Even after you've challenged your stinking thinking, that negative internal dialogue may return; therefore, you'll want to fight back with self-statements that allow you to feel capable, empowered, and resilient. You may have to fake it until you make it with your self-talk initially, but eventually, you'll retrain your brain to believe it! (Try these positive self-statements on for size: "Even if my child has a reaction, I am prepared, capable, and ready to handle it." Or "It's okay to feel scared; I don't have to judge myself or let others' judgments make me feel bad.") Worth Reading:
(Please feel free to share this image, as long as the logo is still visible. If you'd find it easier to have any of the Food Allergy Awareness Week images or PDFs emailed to you so that you can share them with your organization, please reach out via the Contact page.)
(If you find yourself needing support for food allergy-related psychosocial impacts, locate a food allergy-knowledgeable clinical behavioral healthcare provider via the Food Allergy Counselor Directory.)
1 Comment
10/3/2022 12:06:39 pm
I Read this post. Here is advice that about Dice pattern. You can know more service the following website.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Follow FAC on Twitter or Instagram, or on Facebook on the Food Allergy Counselor Directory page to get updates on the FAC Directory, blog or resources. And connect with FAC creator Tamara on Twitter or Instagram!
Subscribe here to receive weekly allergy life tips and/or insights into the allergy counseling niche
Listen to & subscribe to the Exploring Food Allergy Families podcast!
Archives
March 2023
Categories
All
Don't miss a blog post! Subscribe below:
|