Cognitive dissonance

[robvalue]

I've been trying to think of whether I've ever been subject to these contradictory beliefs myself.

I can only think of one example that happened while my mind was healthy. I was trying to hold two beliefs at once which were inconsistent, and my mind didn't like it. Something had to give, and eventually I admitted one of the beliefs was bogus and discarded it.

Since I've been depressed, contradictory beliefs spring up from everywhere. But I can now quite easily identify which are irrational, depressive thoughts and which are evidence-based, sensible ones. Once I've made the distinction, the conflict is sorted out and the irrational one is discarded. The same irrational belief will come back time and again though, looking to overwhelm my logic with emotional manipulation. When I'm at my worst, and most vulnerable, my depression chooses that time to strike and plant all these false ideas.

Rather like a vulture theist who descends on a new and bewildered atheist...