CBT
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a type of talk therapy and is considered the gold standard therapy for treating many mental health concerns, including anxiety, OCD, depression and eating disorders. It focusses on the idea that our thoughts are powerful and can affect our feelings and behaviors. It helps you challenge any distorted thoughts and core beliefs that may not be serving you. (Eg. They rejected me—> something is wrong with me —> I will never find love—> I am not worthy of love.) CBT will ask you to challenge your assumptions and the stories you tell yourself. Please click here to read more on CBT.
Below are two common exercises when using CBT. The first is Unhelpful Thinking Styles, where you will identify common thought processes you may unknowingly have. For example, many people catastrophize, ignore the positive, and think in absolutes/all or nothing thinking (eg. “never,” “always”). The idea is to recognize when you are doing this, notice how it is contributing to how you feel and then ask yourself what evidence there is for and against this thought. You can use the thought record to process this and hopefully find a more balanced thought. It may feel elementary, however most of us do this on a daily basis without recognizing the consequences.
The Thought Record will help walk you through your intrusive thoughts, worries, assumptions, negative self-talk, etc that you might be having. Take your time with this and be self-reflective and open as possible
