I’ve officially started therapy. That’s not easy to admit, which is why I want to continue working to de-stigmatize mental health care. Treating our minds is just as important as treating our bodies. To that end, I decided to explain what are known as the 10 Cognitive Distortions. These are lenses in which we view and analyze the world that commonly lead to inaccurate, toxic, and dangerous thoughts. Jumping to conclusions, over-generalization, discounting the positive… all examples of distortions that twist the reality of what you’re receiving. These occur with major life events like break ups/heartbreak/divorce or losing a job, as well as everyday occurrences like traffic or getting snubbed on the street. Knowledge is power, and with an understanding of these 10 things, hopefully you’ll be prepared to fend off the distortions when they inevitably present themselves.