How to Complete a Thought Diary for Social Anxiety

By Arlin Cuncic, About.com Guide

Updated July 08, 2012

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Describe your beliefs about the event. Beliefs might include attitudes, perceptions, expecations and thoughts. What were you thinking about? What was going through your mind? Probe a bit further and think about what underlies your thoughts. Ask yourself questions like "And that is bad because?" or "What does that say about me?". Keep probing until you identify your "hot thought"; the one that is most distressing. Underline this thought and rate how much you believe it on a scale from 0 to 100.

Print a Thought Diary Form (pdf)

Previous

• Describe the Activating Event
• Describe the Consequences of the Event
• Describe Your Beliefs About the Event
• Describe Your Unhelpful Thinking Styles
• Dispute Your Hot Thought
• End Result: How to Replace Your Hot Thought

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