More Examples of CBT

(from the Depression Guidebook)

Date: 2/28/2023

1. What happened?

My mental health took a downturn today. So far I’ve had to  take four extra doses of medication. My psychiatrist has instructed me to go to the ER if I feel like hurting myself again.

2. What is going through your mind?

I’m worried I’m going back to the mental hospital and I’m worried it won’t be the hospital where I’ve been the last five times, which is familiar to me.

3. What emotions are you feeling (out of ten)?

Terror  ……..6

Panic……….9

Confusion……9

4. What thought patterns do you recognize?

Catastrophizing- “I’ll be sent back to a hellhole”

Fortune Telling- “I’m going to end up someplace dirty and unsafe”

Magnifying the negative- “I’ll be locked away forever”

Minimizing the positive- “I’ll be sent somewhere as a prisoner, not as somewhere to get well””

5. How can you think about the situation different?

I can easily adapt to a new hospital.a) I’ve always been very good at adapting

b) I got used to the last hospital fairly quickly

c) It’ll give me a chance to get a break

d) more experience for stories

e) novelty means less boredom

6. Make a note of any additional reflections you have.

The catalyst was that during a Monopoly game with my parents, I had tried to swallow pills to harm myself.  I was okay because Dad made me spit them out but I was on sucide watch for a while. I was also incredibly scared.

Date: 3/8/2023

1. What happened

— and I had plans to hang out at the Art Cafe. I woke this morning to a text from her cancelling because she doesn’t feel well and she doesn’t want to pass it on

2. What is going through your mind?— must not want to be my friend. She doesn’t want to hang out with me. Why would she? If she did she would answer my text.

3. What emotions are you feeling?

Disappointed………10

Hurt………………….8

Anxious……………10

4. What emotions do you recognize?

Catastrophizing- thinking no one, especially —--, will be my friend

Emotional reasoning- if I think it, it must be true

Fortune telling- I will never get new friends

Mind-reading: —-- hates me

5. How can you think about the situation differently?

I can accept they fact that up until yesterday she seemed really eager to hang out and suggested the time and place. Nothing has changed since then. Also I have plenty of other friends- its not like I’m dependent on her for companionship. And I had a good day anyway.

Date: 4/24/2025

1. What happened?

I am still confused about the peer specialist process. If I undertake a job will I know what to do or choke?

2. What is going through your mind?

I will never make money. I can never move out. I’ll live at home until my parents die and by then Justin will have moved on to someone else.

3. What emotions are you feeling?

Despair…..8

Disappointment……8

Shame………….9

4. What thought patterns do you recognize?

Catastrophizing- I’ll never get a job

Fortune telling- Justin and I will never live together

Minimizing the positive- I’ve already come so far

5. How can you think about the situation differently?

I have done so much already. I have all my letters of recommendation and completed all my classes with passing grades. Although I haven’t sent te paperwork in yet, I fulfill all of the requirements. Why wouldn’t I be able to do that?

I mean seriously. Why wouldn’t I be able to do that?