top of page

How Cognitive Distortions are Ruining Mental Health in America




Causes of the Mental Health Crisis 

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), America has been experiencing a mental health crisis that began before the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued to worsen (CDC, June 19, 2025). The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that 23.4% of U.S. adults experienced mental illness in 2024, or more than 1 in 5 adults, that 1 in 7 youth experienced mental illness, and that approximately 1 in 20 adults experienced serious mental illness (NAMI, n.d.). The highest rate of mental illness was classified as Major Depressive Disorder at 15.5%, and Anxiety Disorders at 19.1% (NAMI, n.d.). Worse, suicide was the second leading cause of death among those 18-25. (NAMI, n.d.). Unfortunately, I can attest to the reality of these numbers in my immediate family, including the impact of anxiety, depression, and the tragic suicide of my stepson. 


Many have speculated as to the numerous contributing factors to the increase in mental health conditions, such as the effects of technology and social media, family breakdown and parenting styles, the increase in drug and cannabis use, economic insecurity, stigma, limited access to care, the impact of tribalism and identity politics, and social isolation (Abrams, S., April 17, 2024, Carelon, n.d., Haidt, 2024, Shrier, 2024). As a Christian and a social worker, I am open to the idea that multiple factors and effects of sin can impact mental health in a fallen world, including individual, family, and cultural factors. However, one key area often overlooked in cultural conversation is the impact of spiritual forces on the thoughts and beliefs that undermine mental health. This is not to say that all mental health issues are caused by direct demonic possession, but that the Bible is clear that people have a spiritual enemy working to cause us harm and undermine God’s will in the world. The Bible teaches that Satan is real, that he is a thief whose aim is to steal, kill, and destroy (NIV, John 10:10) and that he is the father of lies (NIV, John 8:44) who roams about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (NIV, 1 Peter 5:8). Further, the Bible warns that the real behind the scenes battle affecting our lives is not with flesh and blood and tangible things, but with principalities, powers, unseen forces and rulers, real spiritual beings, deceptions, and empty philosophies rooted in elemental forces of this world (NIV, Eph. 6, NIV, Col. 2:8). It is these forces that affect both personal and cultural beliefs and play a significant role in mental health. 


As a counselor, I see the effects of false beliefs and the spiritual forces that promote them almost every day. Indeed, the main key to improved mental health for most of my clients is a life more deeply rooted in truth and grace, and trust and reliance on the One who is truth, love, and life. This is where the battle is fought for most people, including me, every day. I say this not to minimize the reality of physical or environmental factors and past trauma on mental health struggles (I also see the effects of these every week), but to say that with or without the effects of past trauma, or culture, what people believe and the truths they hold to, deeply affects their behavior, attitudes, emotions, and choices. All of which affect mental health. The apostle Paul emphasizes this reality when he calls believers to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (NIV, Rom. 12:1). Transformation of the mind includes changes to how we think and perceive the world as we seek to live in truth and with the mind of Christ (NIV, 1 Cor. 2:16). 


One of the greatest challenges of our day is the constant barrage of fear-based messaging, lies, half-truths, or straight-out propaganda that we all face each day through phones, media, and social media, influenced by the father of lies and chaos. As a result, we increasingly live in a culture that emphasizes activism, advocacy, injustice, victimization, algorithms, and monetary incentives for clicks that promote reactivity, anger, and struggle as voices compete for attention, validation, and influence. The field of social work, where I teach and practice, as well as other helping professions, often contributes to these ideas by disproportionately emphasizing narratives of victimhood, oppression, and trauma over personal agency and resilience. In the name of justice and compassion, many churches have fallen into this trap as well, minimizing, distorting, or presenting truth in unbalanced ways as a result. Ironically, these approaches fly in the face of decades of research showing cognitive-behavioral therapy to be the most consistently effective and evidence-based approach for improving mental health for most people (Cuijpers, Cristea, Karyotaki, Reijnders, & Huibers, 2016). Cognitive behavioral therapy is ultimately a way of addressing a person’s beliefs and helping them to orient their mind to a more sound, realistic, and truthful way of living. 



The Impact of Cognitive Distortions on Mental Health in America

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), originally developed by Aaron Beck, identified the most common cognitive distortions that affect mental health. Christians understand that all cognitive distortions are ideas or beliefs not based on or consistent with the truth of scripture and therefore contribute to unhealthy beliefs, reducing our ability to rightly discern the will of God (NIV, Rom. 12:1). Cognitive distortions significantly contribute to depression and anxiety because they reinforce beliefs that are not grounded in evidence and truth, leading to exaggerated ideas and reactions. Ironically, many who seek to address the mental health crisis in America focus only on external factors instead of the internal cognitive distortions that are shown to be the most common contributors to depression and anxiety, and the ones most within a person's control to change. It is vital, therefore, that Christians, pastors, and leaders understand the importance of these distortions in responding to common mental health issues and needs and to help people assess the information they are receiving in light of them to combat their effects. Below, I list all of the cognitive distortions (Psychcentral.com, 2016). Almost all of the cognitive distortions listed can be seen in the current views and messaging being promoted in our culture through a variety of platforms, leaving little room for surprise that mental health symptoms are at an all-time high in America. Consider for yourself how you see these cognitive distortions show up in yourself, the media, conversations, or even at church. 


Here also is a link to a short video describing cognitive distortions.  


  • Filtering

Mental filtering is draining and straining all positives in a situation and, instead, dwelling on its negatives. Even if there are more positive aspects than negative in a situation or person, you focus on the negatives exclusively. 


  • Polarization

Polarized thinking is thinking about yourself and the world in an “all-or-nothing” way. When you engage in thoughts of black or white, with no shades of gray, this type of cognitive distortion is leading you. 


  • Overgeneralization

When you overgeneralize something, you take an isolated negative event and turn it into a never-ending pattern of loss and defeat. 


  • Discounting the positive

Discounting positives is similar to mental filtering. The main difference is that you dismiss it as something of no value when you do think of positive aspects.


  • Jumping to conclusions

When you jump to conclusions, you interpret an event or situation negatively without evidence supporting such a conclusion. Then, you react to your assumption.


  • Catastrophizing

Catastrophizing is related to jumping to conclusions. In this case, you jump to the worst possible conclusion in every scenario, no matter how improbable it is. This cognitive distortion often comes with “what if” questions. 


  • Personalization

Personalization leads you to believe that you’re responsible for events that are completely or partially out of your control. This cognitive distortion often results in you feeling guilty or assigning blame without contemplating all factors involved. 


  • Control fallacies

The word fallacy refers to an illusion, misconception, or error.

Control fallacies can go two opposite ways: You either feel responsible or that you should be in control of everything in your and other people’s lives, or you feel you have no control at all over anything in your life. 


  • Fallacy of fairness

This cognitive distortion refers to measuring every behavior and situation on a scale of fairness. Finding that other people don’t assign the same value of fairness to the event makes you resentful. In other words, you believe you know what’s fair and what isn’t, and it upsets you when other people disagree with you. 


  • Blaming

Blaming refers to making others responsible for how you feel. 


  • Shoulds

As cognitive distortions “should” statements are subjective, ironclad rules you set for yourself and others without considering the specifics of a circumstance. You tell yourself that things should be a certain way with no exceptions.


  • Emotional reasoning

Emotional reasoning leads you to believe that the way you feel reflects reality. “I feel this way about this situation; hence it must be a fact,” defines this cognitive distortion.


  • Fallacy of change

The fallacy of change has you expecting other people to change their ways to suit your expectations or needs, particularly when you pressure them enough. 


  • Global labeling

Labeling or mislabeling refers to taking a single attribute and turning it into an absolute.

This happens when you judge and then define yourself or others based on an isolated event. This is an extreme form of overgeneralization that leads you to judge an action without taking the context into account. 


  • Always being right

This desire turns into a cognitive distortion when it trumps everything else, including evidence, important relationships and other people’s feelings just for the sake of being right. 



Conclusion

Truth is that which corresponds to reality. At their core, cognitive distortions are called distortions because they are extreme and distort reality, and those who believe them or engage with them pay the price. Truth and love are inextricably woven together in God’s nature. Cognitive distortions lead to confusion and chaos regarding how someone sees and relates to themselves and the world, and more than any other factor, result in interpersonal drama, conflict, and reactive responses. Although trauma and other factors can contribute to distorted thinking patterns, sin, self-centeredness, and Satan are enough for all people to be susceptible to them. God’s word is clear that what we believe and think is directly connected to faith and righteousness. Indeed, it is belief that comes by hearing the truth that leads to salvation, and the Apostle Paul reminds us of the importance of thinking rightly in our response to things like anxiety in Philippians chapter 4. One of the best things we can do to combat the mental health crisis in America, as individuals, parents, and leaders, is to help people understand the personal impact of cognitive distortions and how they are also being promoted in culture and used for personal gain. As discerning truth becomes increasingly challenging, evaluating our cognitive distortions and beliefs in light of the truth of Christ and scripture will help many to achieve greater emotional stability. 




References

Abrams, S. J. (2024). DEI exacerbates the collegiate mental health gender gap. American Enterprise Institute. https://www.aei.org/op-eds/dei-exacerbates-the-collegiate-mental-health-gender-gap/ 


Carelon (n.d.). The mental health crisis in America. https://www.carelonbehavioralhealth.com/perspectives/mental-health-crisis-america 


Centers for Disease Control (CDC), June 19, 2025. Protecting the nation's mental health. https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/about/what-cdc-is-doing.html 


Cuijpers, P., Cristea, I. A., Karyotaki, E., Reijnders, M., & Huibers, M. J. (2016). How effective are cognitive behavior therapies for major depression and anxiety disorders? A meta‐analytic update of the evidence. World psychiatry, 15(3), 245 258. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/wps.20346


Foster, J. (March 12, 2020). Cognitive Distortions in 3 minutes. https://youtu.be/j0g9J4kXQas?si=IE3zBmxXPgMdRdv1 


Haidt, J. (2024). The anxious generation: How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness. Penguin Press.


National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), n.d. Mental health by the numbers. https://www.nami.org/mental-health-by-the-numbers/ 


New International Version, Bible. Bible Gateway. Biblegateway.com   


Shrier, A. (2023). Bad therapy: Why the kids aren’t growing up. Sentinel. 


 
 
bottom of page