Cognitive Distortions: The Hidden Mind Traps That Shape Your Relationships and Reality

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The Relationship Doctor

Heartcast Media

19 episodes

1 week ago

Welcome to The Relationship Doctor, hosted by the vibrant and deeply experienced Dr. Margaret Cochran — a licensed psychotherapist with over 25 years of clinical work under her belt. With a colorful background spanning medicine, metaphysics, hypnosis, law, and multiple schools of psychology, Dr. Cochran blends science with soul to tackle one of life’s greatest challenges: relationships.

Whether it’s with your partner, your family, your coworkers, or — most crucially — yourself, this show is your guide to understanding how connection, compassion, empathy, and boundaries can shape the life you truly want. Dr. Cochran brings you a “foolproof recipe” for love that integrates neuroscience, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, topped with just a dash of passion.

Heartfelt, smart, and packed with practical wisdom, The Relationship Doctor isn’t just about fixing what’s broken — it’s about helping you build relationships that last. Tune in, and discover how to give and receive love in a way that transforms everything.

Because in the end, what really matters is who you’ve loved — and who’s loved you.

All content for The Relationship Doctor is the property of Heartcast Media and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Cognitive Distortions: The Hidden Mind Traps That Shape Your Relationships and Reality

The Relationship Doctor

13 minutes

1 week ago

Cognitive Distortions: The Hidden Mind Traps That Shape Your Relationships and Reality

Welcome back to The Relationship Doctor! I’m Dr. Margaret Cochran, and today we’re tackling a topic that affects every one of us—whether we realize it or not: cognitive distortions. These sneaky, distorted ways of thinking can twist how we see ourselves, our relationships, and even the world around us—often leading to unnecessary pain, confusion, and conflict.

I’ll walk you through some of the most common traps we fall into—like all-or-nothing thinking, catastrophizing, personalizing, and those pesky “shoulds” that quietly run the show in our heads. And don’t worry—it’s not all heavy stuff! With a little humor and a lot of compassion, I’ll help you recognize how these thoughts take hold and, more importantly, how to shift them toward something healthier and more freeing.

By the end of this episode, you’ll have practical tools to challenge your inner critic, communicate more clearly, and bring more calm, clarity, and kindness into your relationships. So, if you’ve ever caught yourself spiraling or assuming the worst, this one’s for you. Let’s unpack the mind games we all play—and learn how to stop believing everything we think.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction
00:10 - Understanding Cognitive Distortions
05:45 - Fallacy of Unseen Reward
07:30 - "Overcoming Cognitive Distortions"
11:29 - Question Assumptions for Self-Growth
13:24 - Wishing You Wisdom and Magic
14:01 - Outro

Quotes:

“Separating fact from fiction allows you to determine which part of your thinking you need to change.”- Dr. Margaret Cochran

“If the way you’re looking at people, events, and yourself is negative and limiting, you’re cheating yourself and those around you.”- Dr. Margaret Cochran

Key Takeaways:

Cognitive Distortions: The Root of Unnecessary Suffering
The Greatest Hits of Distorted Thinking
Relationship Roadblocks
The Power of Awareness
Tools for Transformation: Steps to Clearer Thinking
Treat Yourself Like a Friend
Lighten Up and Laugh
Progress, Not Perfection

Connect with Dr Margaret
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/doctorcochran
Website: https://drcochrancoaching.com/