Types of Unhelpful Thought Patterns
Always Thoughts/Hype Thoughts
I bet this play date is going to be so annoying and boring
Omen thoughts/weatherman
You hear a noise outside at night, what's a helpful way to think about it?
Someone doesn't listen to me when I'm talking
take deep breaths so I can calmly explain how im feeling
Someone teases me
mad/annoyed/hurt
I'm always right thoughts/fault thoughts
I'd have more fun and everything would be great if my friend only followed my rules all of the time
Change already/fault thoughts
Your brother gets two more gifts for his birthday than you got, what is a helpful way to look at the situation?
I'm really happy with all of the gifts I got for my birthday and I know my parents spent a lot of time to pick just the right things for me
i'm getting frustrated because I don't understand something
take a break and then come back to it
My friends voted to play a game that I didn't want to play
I'm late for school because my mom didn't remind me to pack my bag last night
Fault Thoughts/Its all your fault
The teacher's going to call on me in class and I'm going to answer wrong and be so embarrased
omen thoughts/weatherman
My friend teased me for not knowing the answer to a question
It's okay that I don't know the answer, I'm still learning
My sister is annoying me
ignore/take a break somewhere else/take time for self
My family is planning to see my cousins this weekend
excited/happy/impatient
My sister got to spend time with her friends this weekend and I didn't, it's so unfair
Fair is fair thoughts/rule thoughts
I'm going to get in so much trouble for being late to class, my teacher will probably yell
Disaster zone/hype thoughts
My sister won't follow my directions when I'm trying to tell her the right thing to do to stay out of trouble
I can only control my own behaviors
I'm feeling nervous about speaking in front of the class
take deep breaths, use relaxation strategies
I have to give a presentation in class
nervous/worried/excited
My friend should want to play legos my way
You should thoughts/rule thoughts
My friend isn't talking to me because they are mad at me
Omen thoughts/mind reader
My friend and I disagree on our opinions of a situation that happened
It's okay for us to have different opinions, I can try to understand her's even if I disagree
I'm confused and upset about a situation that happened with a friend at school
talk to a parent or someone you trust about it
Two of my friends had a playdate without me
Jealous/sad/understanding