Cognitive distortions are habitual patterns of inaccurate or biased thinking that can negatively influence emotions and behavior. Common examples include catastrophizing (“everything will go wrong”), black-and-white thinking (“I’m either perfect or a failure”), and mind reading (“they must dislike me”). These mental shortcuts often develop from stress, past experiences, or learned beliefs and can contribute to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and relationship difficulties. In therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, people learn to identify, question, and replace these distorted thoughts with more balanced and realistic perspectives, improving emotional resilience, decision-making, and overall mental well-being. #MentalHealth #CognitiveBehavior #EmotionalWellbeing