3 Faulty Thinking Patterns in Depression

A gorgeous young lady walked into my office looking nicely dressed and corporate. Her story was that she was finding it very difficult to fall asleep at night and that this had been going on for weeks now. Less than 10 minutes into the interview she started weeping profusely stating she was anxious about her health and the possibility of her lack of sleep affecting her mental health. She was very worried about how this could impact her future and her chances of getting married. She also felt overwhelmed by a feeling of low self-esteem: she felt everyone else was better dressed and more intelligent compared to her.

This lady was actually experiencing the 3 patterns of faulty thinking that are common in people who are depressed or susceptible to becoming depressed. They are called the Cognitive triad of depression.

The Cognitive triad of depression entails negative thoughts about

# 1 Self

The individual sees him or herself as deficient, worthless or flawed. They tend to minimize their achievements and magnify their faults.

 
# 2 The world/environment

This entails a tendency to give negative interpretations to events or people around.

 

# 3 The Future

The future looks hopeless. He or she may view their current suffering as permanent.

 

Read up more about signs and symptoms of depression

Remember people with mental illness can live more productive lives. When you are better educated about what you’re dealing with, then you are never without hope. Let’s spread the awareness not the stigma. Talk to a professional today.