Panic Disorder Coping Negative Thinking Patterns and Your Beliefs By Katharina Star, PhD Katharina Star, PhD Facebook LinkedIn Katharina Star, PhD, is an expert on anxiety and panic disorder. Dr. Star is a professional counselor, and she is trained in creative art therapies and mindfulness. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 11, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Steven Gans, MD Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Zero Creatives/Cultura/Getty Images According to theories of cognitive therapy, your thoughts and values determine the way you see yourself and the world around you. Thoughts and beliefs that are grounded in pessimism can negatively impact your feelings, emotions, and mental health. These harmful perceptions are common issues that can contribute to the symptoms of mood and anxiety disorders. In order to overcome negative thinking patterns and self-defeating beliefs, it is important to understand the definitions and differences between these two concepts. Self-Defeating Beliefs Your belief system is made up of your personal views, attitudes, and values. Your beliefs are always with you, shaping the way in which you see yourself and the world around you. Self-defeating beliefs can set you up for failure and dissatisfaction. For instance, if it is your belief that your self-worth is solely determined by your accomplishments, you will only feel fulfilled when you are excelling at your career, achieving your goals, or reaching a desired level of status. Self-defeating beliefs fall into two categories: intrapersonal beliefs you have about yourself and interpersonal beliefs about your relationships. Intrapersonal Self-Defeating Beliefs Perfectionism Approval Achievement Interpersonal Self-Defeating Beliefs Blame Submissiveness Fear of conflict Negative Thinking Patterns Unlike self-defeating beliefs, negative thinking patterns are not always with you. Rather, they only surface when you are faced with an issue. Also known as cognitive distortions, these negative thoughts come to mind during times of stress and reinforce your self-defeating beliefs. For instance, perhaps you hold the self-defeating belief that your worth is solely defined by your achievements. You may feel okay as long as you are able to consistently reach your goals. However, when faced with unforeseen setbacks or obstacles, negative thinking patterns may cause you to over-analyze or exaggerate the severity of a situation, ultimately triggering unfounded anxiety. In such circumstances, you may begin to have negative thoughts, such as labeling yourself a failure or blaming yourself for not reaching your goal. You may think to yourself, “I will never be a success” or “it must not have been meant to be.” Over time, these thoughts can lower self-esteem and may even contribute to symptoms of depression. Panic Disorder and Negative Thinking Overcoming Negativity Personal beliefs are learned and developed over time, making them very difficult to change. Similarly, thought patterns become a habitual way of thinking that is so ingrained, we are often unaware of it. However, there are ways to break the cycle of self-defeating beliefs and negative thinking patterns. To rise above your self-defeating beliefs and negative thoughts, start by recognizing when these issues come up in your life. For instance, notice your outlook on life and how you react to different problems. Do you face your problems head-on or do you succumb to negative thoughts? Is life full of possibilities or do you see the glass as always being half-empty? After you start acknowledging self-defeating beliefs and negative thinking patterns, take back control by challenging them. For example, if you're feeling inadequate, question if it's true that others only accept you free of flaws and imperfections. Are you really a “loser” if you do not attain a certain amount of success? Do you always fail at what you set out to accomplish? How Perfectionism Can Impact Panic and Anxiety Continue to dispute your beliefs and thoughts, replacing them with more positive and realistic ones. When you start confronting your negative views, you can begin to notice how many of them are not true in your life. Instead of assuming the worst, you may realize that you feel disappointed you did not reach a certain goal, but also accept that you are learning and growing from your mistakes and setbacks. Get Advice From The Verywell Mind Podcast Hosted by Editor-in-Chief and therapist Amy Morin, LCSW, this episode of The Verywell Mind Podcast shares an effective way to help you curb negative thinking. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts A Word From Verywell Developing new beliefs and ways of thinking will require some extra effort and consistency on your part; therapy can also be very helpful. Through monitoring, confronting, and rethinking your negative thoughts and beliefs, you can "unlearn" or change them to more nurturing, empowering, and encouraging ways of viewing your life. Over time, you may be able to shift your thoughts and beliefs to more positive and realistic ones. 7 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Tuckwiller B, Dardick WR. Mindset, grit, optimism, pessimism, and life satisfaction in university students with and without anxiety and/or depression. J Interdiscip Stud Educ. 2018;6(2):32-48. Callan MJ, Kay AC, Dawtry RJ. Making sense of misfortune: Deservingness, self-esteem, and patterns of self-defeat. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2014;107(1):142–162. doi:10.1037/a0036640 Rnic K, Dozois DJ, Martin RA. Cognitive distortions, humor styles, and depression. Eur J Psychol. 2016;12(3):348–362. doi:10.5964/ejop.v12i3.1118 Leigh E, Clark DM. Understanding social anxiety disorder in adolescents and improving treatment outcomes: Applying the Cognitive Model of Clark and Wells (1995). Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev. 2018;21(3):388–414. doi:10.1007/s10567-018-0258-5 Lang TJ, Blackwell SE, Harmer CJ, Davison P, Holmes EA. Cognitive bias modification using mental imagery for depression: Developing a novel computerized intervention to change negative thinking styles. Eur J Pers. 2012;26(2):145-157. doi:10.1002/per.855 Topper M, Emmelkamp PM, Watkins E, Ehring T. Prevention of anxiety disorders and depression by targeting excessive worry and rumination in adolescents and young adults: A randomized controlled trial. Behav Res Ther. 2017;90:123–136. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2016.12.015 National Alliance on Mental Illness. Psychotherapy. Additional Reading Burns DD. When Panic Attacks: The New Drug-Free Anxiety Therapy That Can Change Your Life. Broadway Books, 2006. By Katharina Star, PhD Katharina Star, PhD, is an expert on anxiety and panic disorder. Dr. Star is a professional counselor, and she is trained in creative art therapies and mindfulness. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist for Panic Disorder Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.