Cognitive Distortions
In recovery—whether from gambling, collecting, or compulsive spending—few things are more dangerous than the stories we tell ourselves. They aren’t always loud or obvious. Sometimes they whisper just enough to distort reality—turning moments of clarity into excuses, self-awareness into shame, or one small slip into a deep spiral. Cognitive distortions are irrational thoughts that quietly shape how we see the world, ourselves, and our habits. They’re mental filters that twist logic until we start believing