ABSTRACT
This chapter explains that particular thoughts and ways of thinking can either make people feel bad or lead them to behave in unhelpful ways. It is often possible to find more helpful and realistic alternatives to their unhelpful thoughts with helpful and realistic alternatives. It also discusses how to identify and change these thoughts. Thoughts can make things worse for people in other ways too. They can keep people from doing things that would actually make them feel better. The chapter gives some ideas about how to take a step back from thoughts and feelings, as well as some ways of testing out true thoughts, and certain types of thinking including all-or-nothing thinking, anxious predictions and pessimistic thoughts and predictions. Finally, the chapter concludes that the thoughts can be powerful, but that does not mean they have to dictate their feelings completely.
