In this session of our Change Your Thinking series, we cover the distortion in thinking of All or Nothing that is common among Dementia caregivers. All or Nothing thinking patterns are polarized thoughts that cause the habit of thinking in extremes. Rather than seeing the existing reality between two extremes, the person tends to think in one extreme or the other. For example, people are either good or bad; there is either success or failure. All or Nothing thoughts can stimulate highly negative and dangerous habits such as setting yourself up for failure. When one small thing interrupts how well things are going, it may seem like your whole day, week, or even month is ruined. Another danger of All or Nothing thinking is the extreme pressure it puts onto one person.
This video session covers a great example of All or Nothing thinking with a Dementia caregiver. In the example, a five-step plan is followed to change your thinking surrounding All or Nothing thoughts. The five-step plan helps caregivers to recognize when they are in an All or Nothing thought pattern and then challenge that pattern to choose a new thought. Remember, you have the ability to change your thoughts and habits over time!
This session is part of the Change Your Thinking series of programs on the caregiver mindset. Recorded sessions are 30 minutes or less in length.
- Discounting the Positive – video not available
- Emotional Reasoning/Jumping to Conclusions
- Labeling
- Magnifying or Minimizing
- Mental Filters
- Overgeneralization
- Should Statements and Personalizing the Blame
The James L. West Center for Dementia Care is a faith-inspired, not-for-profit organization serving persons impacted by dementia. As a trusted expert, we provide personalized, innovative care and support for families and specialized education for caregivers, healthcare professionals, and the community at-large.
Connect with us at 817-877-1199; caregiver@jameslwest.org; or stop by our building at 1111 Summit Ave., Fort Worth, TX 76102.
Visit our Education Calendar for a full list of upcoming programs and learning opportunities, or check out James L. West Learn to browse our video library.
