Recognising and Correcting Cognitive Distortions

Cognitive distortions are automatic, unhelpful thought patterns that can increase stress and make events seem worse. In pharmacy work they often appear under pressure, after criticism, near misses or during conflict.

Distorted thoughts can drive intense emotions, defensive reactions, reduced confidence and repeated rumination after an incident.

Common distortions in pharmacy work

• All-or-nothing thinking: "If I do not handle this perfectly, I have failed."
• Catastrophising: "If this goes wrong, it will become a major disaster."
• Overgeneralisation: "That one difficult interaction proves every patient today will be hard work."
• Personalisation: "The patient is upset, so this must be entirely my fault."
• Mind reading: "My colleagues must think I am not coping."

These thoughts often rest on exaggeration, assumption or a narrow reading of events rather than on balanced evidence.

Corrective techniques

• Thought questioning: check whether the thought is supported by facts.
• Thought balancing: replace an extreme thought with one that is more accurate and less absolute.
• Perspective shift: imagine assessing the event as you would for a respected colleague rather than for yourself.