Challenging Negative Thoughts

ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING:

1. Is it possible I am making assumptions or “future-telling”?  What are the facts?

2. How could I reframe this incident? Is there a positive side?

3. What are other possible outcomes?  Are there solutions that can be explored?

4. Will this problem matter for a long period of time?  Could it be a temporary / short – term issue?

6. Can there be a different perspective as to how this problem may be solved?  Did you consult with a trusted friend to see if there are alternatives?

According to the American Psychological Association (n.d.), “Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use problems, marital problems, eating disorders, and severe mental illness.” Hence, using CBT to address cognitive distortions or “negative thinking” can allow a person to decrease mental health disorders that affects “1 in 5 adults…experience mental illness” (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2024).

At Love Without Walls, CBT is one of the MANY techniques we use to help our clients regain balance in their life.

Love Without Walls – Helping People Cope with Everyday Living.

Citations

What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?, n.d. What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? 

Mental Health by the Numbers, 2024, Mental Health By the Numbers | NAMI