Maladaptive thought patterns refer to cognitive processes or ways of thinking that are unhelpful or counterproductive in dealing with life challenges. These patterns may lead to distress, hinder problem-solving abilities, and contribute to psychological difficulties.
Related terms
Cognitive Distortions: Biased ways of thinking that distort reality and contribute to negative thoughts or emotions.
Rumination: The tendency to repetitively dwell on negative thoughts without taking any productive action.
Catastrophizing: A cognitive distortion where one magnifies the importance of negative events and predicts the worst possible outcomes.