Dr Niall Jawad
Breaking Thought Distortions to Overcome Eczema Flare-ups.
Learn how to identify and overcome thought distortions and boost your mental resilience.
What We'll Cover - Thought Distortions and Eczema.
Key Takeaways
Thought distortions are negative thinking patterns that can greatly affect mental health and the way we handle eczema flare-ups.
Some common thought distortions include all-or-nothing thinking, mind reading, unhelpful rules, justification, delusional thinking, and exaggerated thinking.
Breaking thought distortions involves identifying the distortion, catching the thought as it occurs, challenging the thought, and implementing an action plan.
Introduction - Thought Distortions and Eczema
Eczema flare-ups can be challenging, both physically and mentally. One of the critical aspects of managing eczema is understanding and breaking thought distortions that can negatively affect your mental response to flare-ups. In this blog post, we will guide you through identifying and overcoming these thought distortions, and provide actionable tips to help you manage them in your daily life.
Types of Thought Distortions
Thought distortions are negative thought patterns that can significantly impact our mental health and overall quality of life. Some common thought distortions related to eczema include:
All-or-nothing thinking: This occurs when you group things into one of two categories, either true or false, when in reality, most things fall in the middle.
Mind reading: Trying to predict (often incorrectly) what others will think about you or your actions.
Unhelpful rules: Made-up rules that can hinder progress and create unnecessary barriers.
Justification: Linking two unrelated ideas to justify something you've done or want to do.
Delusional thinking: Convincing yourself of something you don't believe in to make yourself feel better.
Exaggerated thinking: Making something more significant than it is or assuming the worst in a situation.
Breaking Thought Distortions
The key to breaking thought distortions is becoming aware of when they occur and recognising their negative impact. Here are some steps to help you break thought distortions:
Identify the thought distortion: Recognise the common thought distortion you've been experiencing.
Catch the thought: When you notice the thought distortion, pause, take a breath, and remind yourself that it's your mind playing tricks.
Challenge the thought: Write down reasons why the thought is true and false, then create a new, more accurate thought to replace the distortion.
Implement your action plan: Apply the tips and techniques shared in this blog post to manage and overcome thought distortions.
Action Plan
This week, when you experience a negative thought related to eczema, pause and say “I’ve noticed a thought distortion”.
The next time you experience your thought distortion, replace it with your new thought.
Contact or wish your Safe Person well the next time you experience a flare-up.
Remember, breaking thought distortions is a crucial step in improving your mental response to eczema flare-ups. By following the strategies and action plans shared in this blog post, you'll be better equipped to manage your thoughts and emotions during challenging times.
