As humans, we are all prone to letting our thoughts run away from us sometimes, even when it’s not logical or justified. This might include having negative thoughts, jumping to conclusions, or black and white thinking. These are all examples of cognitive distortions, which can affect our mental health, especially for those who live with stress disorders like PTSD. If you’re struggling with PTSD, therapy can help you identify cognitive distortions and learn how understanding them can help minimize your PTSD symptoms.
Cognitive Distortions and PTSD
Cognitive distortions are the brain’s way of synthesizing information by creating a general statement surrounding that information, which is often not always true and can increase the brain’s stress response. For instance, catastrophization is a cognitive distortion where the brain expects the worst case scenario. This often creates a negative cycle that fuels further catastrophic thinking and exacerbates PTSD and its symptoms. Thankfully, a PTSD therapist can help you overcome cognitive distortions and minimize PTSD symptoms. Here’s how:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy that helps you challenge irrational thoughts and think more critically about cognitive distortions
- Learn to reframe negative thinking, halt catastrophizing, and minimize tendencies to jump to conclusions
- Therapy can help you identify what forms of cognitive distortions feed into your PTSD and assist you in understanding your stress responses
- Practice deconstructing unhealthy methods of coping with stress
- A therapist can provide you with the tools you need to develop rational, healthy coping mechanisms so you can heal and live a happier life
Dr. Devers – An Experienced PTSD Therapist
PTSD is a serious but treatable disorder. At Philly Family Life Counseling LLC, Dr. Gene Devers and Associates are experienced and practiced PTSD therapists who can help you identify the effects of cognitive distortions on your PTSD. Dr. Devers can provide you with PTSD counseling that can give you the tools you need to cope with your trauma and help you move forward into a happy and healthy life. For more information, please peruse our resources on cognitive distortions. To set up an appointment, you can call our office at 215-677-3810 or fill out our online form. You don’t have to suffer forever; healing is possible.
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