Learn specific skills
and active strategies to feel better.
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Thinking Patterns & Mood States
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Current psychological
research shows specific thinking patterns are present during certain
mood states. |
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We think different ways
depending on our mood. |
| These particular thinking patterns cause us problems
because they actually help maintain and even exaggerate these moods.
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Here are some examples:
- “My life’s a mess.” “It’s all my fault.” “It
will never get any better.”
Even though these thoughts are extremely negative,
they seem accurate to us when we are depressed. This depressed thinking
makes it difficult to see any positives in situations and relationships,
makes us feel self-critical and hopeless, makes problem solving
difficult and makes it hard to function.
- “But What IF ...?”
When anxious, we worry that things will get out of
control, that bad things will happen. We have a lot of "What if"
thoughts. We avoid things or else try to do them perfectly.
Unfortunately, the more we avoid or strive for perfection, the more
anxious we become. We procrastinate, we worry, and frequently we
withdraw.
- “I know there is something wrong with me, they
just have not found it yet.” “There must be something wrong.”
A person with health worries may think, “I know there
is something wrong with me, they just have not found it yet.” When test
results are negative we feel relief only briefly because anxiety returns
and often increases. We are on a constant lookout for any symptoms. The
more we look, the more symptoms we seem to find and continue to think,
“There must be something wrong.” This constant worry makes it difficult
to relax and hard to function without great fatigue.
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If you are a mental health professional interested in
our cognitive therapy training programs and materials, visit
www.padesky.com
our website designed exclusively for mental health
professionals wishing to learn more about cognitive therapy.
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