It’s true. Talking to others is the best thing we can do but for some of us it can take time to build up the courage to talk about our mental health and tell others that we’re not feeling so good. Sometimes writing stuff down can really help. Let’s try something.
Have a look at the questions below and write your answers in your notebook:
Think of a time when you felt anxious or worried. What was happening at the time? Were you nervous about an important test? An airplane flight? A talk you had to give? A one-on-one conversation with your boss? Perhaps you were worried about your health or a bill you forgot to pay. Describe the situation that made you feel nervous.
**Next, try to identify your negative thoughts. What were you telling yourself? What were you thinking? Perhaps you were thinking that something bad was going to happen or were worrying about what other people would think of you. Record your negative thoughts here.
**
Gavin felt anxious after announcing a huge event he’d organised for 12,000 people. Every single ticket was snapped up in 24 hours. Instead of celebrating, all he could think was negative thoughts. We have listed a few below.
· What if it’s rubbish? What if no one turns up?
· This could ruin my career?
· It might fail.
· It’s going to be awful!
As you can see with this example, Gav was practicing his unique ability as a fortune teller. His skills in magnification, mindreading, disqualifying the positive and jumping to conclusions are second to none. You may see some crossover with your own thoughts.
