CBT
Our thoughts, beliefs and behaviours are interactive and affect the way we feel. Early experiences (interactions with family, friends, school, etc) lead to the formation of ways people see themselves, the world/other people and the future. These early experiences form core beliefs or schemas. When these schemas are negative, problem behaviours occur.
CBT examines learnt behaviours and negative thought patterns with the view of altering them in a positive way. For example, experience of abuse, neglect and criticism can lead a person to having negative, rigid schemas such as ‘I am worthless’, ‘Others are rejecting’ and ‘The future is lonely’. Such negative schemas create distress and lead to ‘rules for living’, e.g. ‘I should/must always be accepted or else I am worthless’. The result could be that you have a fear of social situations where you may be embarrassed, judged or rejected. You may be excessively self-conscious and afraid of humiliating yourself in front of others. Your anxiety over how you look and what others might think may lead you to compensate e.g. ‘If I hide away and don’t upset anyone, I will not risk being rejected’. The resulting behaviour is that you avoid certain social situations you’d otherwise enjoy.
If we change our perceptions, our mood and behaviour will also change.
Our thoughts, beliefs and behaviours are interactive and affect the way we feel. Early experiences (interactions with family, friends, school, etc) lead to the formation of ways people see themselves, the world/other people and the future. These early experiences form core beliefs or schemas. When these schemas are negative, problem behaviours occur.
CBT examines learnt behaviours and negative thought patterns with the view of altering them in a positive way. For example, experience of abuse, neglect and criticism can lead a person to having negative, rigid schemas such as ‘I am worthless’, ‘Others are rejecting’ and ‘The future is lonely’. Such negative schemas create distress and lead to ‘rules for living’, e.g. ‘I should/must always be accepted or else I am worthless’. The result could be that you have a fear of social situations where you may be embarrassed, judged or rejected. You may be excessively self-conscious and afraid of humiliating yourself in front of others. Your anxiety over how you look and what others might think may lead you to compensate e.g. ‘If I hide away and don’t upset anyone, I will not risk being rejected’. The resulting behaviour is that you avoid certain social situations you’d otherwise enjoy.
If we change our perceptions, our mood and behaviour will also change.
