Emotional Reasoning
Emotional Reasoning
Emotional reasoning means judging reality based on how you feel. It's the sense that 'I feel anxious, so something must be dangerous.'
Details
Emotional reasoning is a cognitive distortion where you use your emotional state as evidence of objective fact.
'I feel anxious, so it must be dangerous,' 'I feel depressed, so my life must be a mess' — when emotions are intense, they can feel like the truth, but feelings are not facts.
Emotions are important signals, but they don't always accurately reflect reality. Try reminding yourself: 'I'm feeling this way right now, but the facts might be different.' — Mindy
💡 Real-Life Example
'When I feel anxious, I conclude that something must be going wrong' — that's emotional reasoning.
This content is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical diagnosis.