FMP 045 • Thinking Fallacies – A Deeper Understanding of Cognitive Distortions

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“Journal to gain insight about your most used thinking fallacies”

Expanding Cognitive Distortions

In today’s episode, we expand on work by Dr. David Burns as we explore common thinking fallacies we all, at one time or another, find ourselves using. In our previous three-part series on cognitive behavioural therapy skill building, we define frequently used distortions in every day thinking. Since, the addition of five thinking errors, or fallacies, has become popular amongst the therapeutic community. I review the five fallacies with some personal examples.

Episode Outline

Welcome to Episode 045: Thinking Fallacies That Hold Us Back

1. What We Do:
   • Behavioural Medicine and Health Psychology
   • Providing information that usually requires seeing a therapist.
2. Today:
   • Expand on the traditional list of cognitive distortions by Dr. David Burns.
     • Check out our CBT Maters Series.
3. Listener Questions:
   • “What training tools do you use as a runner?”
   • “Does eating a vegan diet negatively impact your running?”
   • “What is the one thing you would do to jumpstart your health.?”

Thinking Fallacies (Expanded) –

From: “Cognitive Distortions: When Your Brain Lies To You“

1. Common Thinking Errors (Burns Expanded):
   • Control Fallacies:
     1. We have no control, or
   • Fallacy of Fairness:
     • The world is absolutely fair – Leads to anger, resentment, and hopelessness.
   • Fallacy of Change:
     • If we apply enough pressure, people change.
     • Forcing those around them to change is the only thing that will lead to happiness.
   • Always Being Right:
     • The idea that we could be wrong is absolutely impossible.
     • Everything is an intellectual battle.
   • Heaven’s Reward Fallacy
     • If we do good, and everything right, thing will go right for us.
2. Tips for Managing Fallacies and Distortions

• Journal: Look for patterns in your thinking as you journal. Challenge yourself when you find a pattern.
• Triple Column Technique
• Gain feedback from a friend.

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