Cognitive distortion refers to the irrational and exaggerated thoughts or beliefs that distort one's perception of reality. These distorted thoughts often contribute to negative emotions and behaviors.
Related terms
Catastrophizing: Catastrophizing is a cognitive distortion where individuals tend to blow things out of proportion and imagine the worst-case scenarios.
All-or-nothing thinking: All-or-nothing thinking is a cognitive distortion where individuals see situations as either completely good or completely bad, without any middle ground.