What Is Cognitive Distortion in Children?
A cognitive distortion is a thinking pattern where a child has inappropriate thoughts and behaviors that ultimately affect the child's mental health and peace. The thoughts that occur during periods of cognitive distortions are termed automatic thoughts, and these thoughts are mainly rigid, as they cannot be changed or overcome easily. Psychologist Aaron Beck first described these thinking patterns to portray their role in initiating mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, etc.
What Are the Symptoms of Cognitive Distortion?
When a child behaves in following patterns repeatedly, it can be a sign of cognitive distortion:
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Rigid Thoughts: The child has a black or white kind of thinking; if any of their friend at once do not behave as they want, they will end up saying he is not my friend anymore. Either a friend or an enemy, these children do not consider any middle options.
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Absolutes: These children often make generalized statements based on a single experience, such as everyone hates me, my friends are evil.
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Behave Stubbornly: Anybody around them does not get a second chance; they want things to happen their way.
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Think Negative: These children refuse or neglect the story's positive or brighter side. What they always notice is the glass is half empty.
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Dramatic Behaviors: Sobbing or skipping meals after the slightest argument.
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Present Emotional Roller Coaster: They are completely fine one moment, and the other, they complain and cry.
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Exaggerates: These children make an issue of pointless things.
What Are the Types of Cognitive Distortion in Children?
Following are some of the inappropriate thinking patterns in children:
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Resulting in extremities or black or white thinking.
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Catastrophizing.
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Minimizing.
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Overgeneralization.
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Blaming.
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Reject positive.
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Concluding without complete information.
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Emotional reasoning.
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Personalizing.
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Fortune telling.
What Causes Cognitive Distortion?
The underlying cause for cognitive distortion is considered traumatic or adverse life events; in the case of childhood abuse, neglect can cause a child to develop such behaviors as a coping mechanism to overcome the trauma or avoid its recurrence.
How Is Cognitive Distortion Cured?
Parents and the family play an essential role in avoiding the occurrence and citing of cognitive distortion. Children consider adverse incidents as specific and general; the positive ones can replace them, or the incidences can be reframed. Mentioned below are some of the tips to avoid cognitive distortion.
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Listen to the Child: Have healthy conversations with the child, stand by their side, and guide them in looking at the situation positively. For example, if the child says he cannot play football, it is difficult, but the parent can give them an alternative by saying he can play tennis. Make them believe in themselves by introducing them to other alternatives. Use positive affirmations.
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Guide the Child: Make oneself available when the child requires it, assist them in securely escaping their difficulties, ensure the child finds a solution on their own, and guide them so that they are positive while making any decision. Let the child know that the solution to their difficulties is all around them and that individuals sometimes exaggerate their problems.
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Read Books and Literature Related to the Child’s Behavior: Knowing about their child's growth can help parents comprehend what their child is going through and guide them to engage in beneficial activities.
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Give the Child Their Space: Allow the child to spend some self-time, which can help in performing productive activities and self-analysis of their growth and behaviors.
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Do Not Guide the Child about How He Must Feel: Never invalidate a child's emotion by making statements opposite of what they say; agree with the child but guide them in finding positive options to deal with it. For example, help your child engage in activities that make them feel happy or sound, like listening to music, playing games, or reading books.
In cases where the child repeatedly presents with the symptoms mentioned above, even after providing all the support and help at home, it is best to visit a specialist who can guide parents in reversing the child's behaviors. Cognitive behaviors can be treated when they are diagnosed at the earliest. Following are the specialists who can guide parents through the journey of improving their child's cognitive behaviors:
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Psychotherapist: When the child's behavior is uncontrollable, and the child is highly emotional or depressed, a psychotherapist can help by implementing cognitive behavior therapies to improve the child's mental health. These psychotherapists can be licensed counselors or a therapist.
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Play Therapy: This therapy has proved helpful in treating children below the age of six, as these children are distracted through games and play.
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Psychologist or Neurologist: Psychologists should be consulted for a comprehensive and cognitive assessment where a physician can complete an examination and determine the child's emotional behaviors, strengths, and weaknesses.
What Is the Differential Diagnosis for Cognitive Distortion?
Below are some of the disorders that can either initiate cognitive behaviors or can present as one of their symptoms:
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Depression.
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Disruptive mood dysregulation disorders.
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Adjustment reaction.
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Autism spectrum disorders.
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Learning disabilities.
Conclusion
Cognitive disorders often present as the symptom of other mental disorders, a condition where a child tends to develop negative thoughts and abnormal behaviors; most children with cognitive disorders are mainly observed as children with a history of abuse or incidences that affect them negatively. These disorders are curable if diagnosed at the earliest. Psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapies help in curing the disorder. Parents play an essential role in preventing the occurrence by guiding the child and being there for them when needed.
