Inline with unhelpful thinking styles, this thread expands some other viewpoints in regard to how a sufferer of PTSD may dramatise their thinking patterns to increase their anxiety levels. A little different spin opposed to the above mentioned thread, and more counselling orientated.

• Dichotomous Thinking - everything is seen in black and white terms, for example, I am either in control of whats happening to me or I am not.
• Over Generalization - expecting a uniform response from a category of people because of the misdeed of a member, for example, all men are rapists.
• Mental Filter - seizing on a negative fragment of the situation and dwelling on it, for example, I could have been killed in that encounter.
• Automatic Discounting - brushing aside the positive aspects of what was achieved in a trauma, for example, I was only doing my duty in saving the child.
• Jumping to Conclusions - assuming that it is known what others think, for example, they all think I should be better by now; it was six weeks ago after all.
• Magnification and Minimisation - magnification of shortcomings and minimisation of strengths, for example, since the trauma, I'm so irritable with the family and just about manage to keep going to work.
• Emotional Reasoning - focusing on emotional state to draw conclusions about oneself, for example, since it happened, I'm frightened of my own shadow, I guess I'm just a wimp.
• Should Statements - inappropriate use of moral imperatives "shoulds", "musts", "haves" and "oughts", for example, It's ridiculous that since the attack I now have to take my daughter with me shopping. I should be able to go by myself.
• Labelling and Mislabelling - for example, I used to think of myself as a strong person. I could handle anything, but since it happened I'm just weak.
• Personalisation - assuming that because something went wrong it must be your fault, for example, I keep going over my handling of the situation. I must have made a mistake somewhere for the child to have died.

Source: Counselling for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (third edition)