ABSTRACT
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective, non-medical approach to the treatment of anxiety and related mental health difficulties (e.g., worry, depression). CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts play a powerful role in how we feel and in how we respond in difficult situations. The first step in learning CBT skills to reduce distress is to increase your awareness of the specific moments in day-to-day life when your distress is increasing. Chapter 4 will guide you through the thought-monitoring form, helping you to identify the different components of your anxious experience (i.e., anxious thoughts, physical sensations, and emotions). In this chapter, you will also learn about the characteristic ways in which our thoughts can change when we are anxious. Having a better understanding of what contributes to your distress is essential so that you can apply the strategies that you will learn in this book in a targeted and effective manner.
