Series: Distorted Thinking - Filtering

In filtering you take the negative details and magnify them while filtering out all positive aspects of a situation. This is Tunnel Vision at its finest. A single detail may be picked out and the whole event or situation is tainted by this one detail. An entire vacation can be shaded and ruined by an inadvertent comment taken the wrong way.

Each person has his/her own tunnel to look through depending on what areas cue their hypersensitivity. Some are hyper sensitive about risk and potential loss and never recognize the gain, so they are very hesitant to take any new actions. Depressed people select to pay attention to loss; those who lean more to being anxious will select evidence of danger; those who are frequently angry will have their sights set on seeing injustice.

The process of remembering can also be selective. From your entire history and experience, you may only choose to remember certain kinds of events. Thus you may be quick to bring to mind memories that leave you angry, anxious or depressed and filter out all of the good that was also present.

By filtering, you magnify your negative thoughts and take them out of context. They become larger and more awful than they really are. The end result is that all your fears and losses and irritations become exaggerated in importance. You may be filtering if you are saying things like "terrible, awful, disgusting, I CAN'T STAND IT!"

What area of your life or what current or past situation may be causing you angst due to filtering? What is another way to look at it?

Next Week: Distorted Thinking - Polarized Thinking