Cognitive distortions — systematic errors in thinking — are both symptoms and drivers of complex ptsd. Identifying and correcting them is core to CBT.
Common Cognitive Distortions in Complex PTSD
All-or-nothing thinking: 'I failed once, therefore I always fail' — common in complex ptsd
Catastrophizing: Expecting the worst-case outcome for complex ptsd-related situations
Mind reading: Assuming others are judging you negatively
Fortune telling: Predicting negative complex ptsd-related outcomes as facts
Emotional reasoning: 'I feel like I'm failing, therefore I am' — complex ptsd emotions mistaken for evidence
Should statements: Rigid rules about how you or others must behave that create complex ptsd when violated
Correcting Cognitive Distortions in Complex PTSD
The CBT process: identify the distorted thought → examine the evidence → generate a more balanced alternative → notice the effect on complex ptsd.
With practice, cognitive restructuring becomes automatic and complex ptsd loses much of its staying power.