Personalization is a cognitive distortion where individuals take excessive responsibility for external events or assume that others’ actions are directly related to them, even when they are not. This thought pattern can lead to guilt, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy. In CBT, personalization is challenged by helping individuals recognize that not everything is within their control and that other people’s behavior is often unrelated to their actions. By reducing personalization, individuals can develop healthier perspectives and reduce unnecessary feelings of self-blame, improving their emotional well-being and resilience in the face of challenging situations.
