Thinking Errors in DID: How Cognitive Distortions Keep You Stuck

Thoughts like “I’m too broken to heal” or “Nothing I do ever makes a difference” feel true in the moment — but they’re actually thinking errors, also known as cognitive distortions. For people with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), these distorted beliefs often develop as survival strategies, sometimes even held by different parts in conflict with each other. While they once protected you, cognitive distortions can now block trust, fuel shame, and keep you stuck. This video explores how to spot thinking errors, challenge them gently, and open the door to real healing.

Have you ever had a thought like:

“I’m too broken to heal,”

“They were just being nice when they complimented me”

or “Nothing I do ever makes a difference”?

These are what are called thinking errors, also called cognitive distortions. They feel true, but they aren’t. Because these kinds of thoughts were protective, they became a core adaptation to your way of managing trauma. In a dissociative system, these distorted beliefs might even be held by different parts—sometimes in direct conflict. But what helped you survive isn’t always what helps you heal.

Cognitive distortions can keep you stuck—in shame, self-doubt, or silence. They can block trust between parts and hold you back from progress. When you learn to spot them, you can start to challenge them. And that opens the door to real change—inside and out.