Google Is Not Your Therapist
You have a headache, Google says brain tumor, and suddenly you're writing your will. What cognitive distortion is happening?
What is catastrophizing?
Someone taking an antipsychotic develops an uncontrollable urge to pace and cannot sit still. What is this medication side effect?
What is akathisia?
Your partner says, "If you loved me, you would give me your phone password." Red flag or green flag?
What is a red flag? It can indicate controlling behavior.
You receive a text that says, "We need to talk." Your heart starts racing. What should you do before sending 15 follow-up messages?
Pause, regulate your breathing, and avoid assuming the worst.
This neurotransmitter is heavily involved in motivation, reward, movement, and reinforcement.
What is dopamine?
You ask your friend 10 times if they're mad at you, but the relief lasts only five minutes. What behavior is reinforcing anxiety?
What is reassurance seeking?
You take Benadryl every night because it knocks you out. Why doesn't that necessarily mean you're getting restorative sleep?
Because sedation does not guarantee normal sleep architecture or restorative sleep quality.
Long-term nightly Benadryl (diphenhydramine) use has been associated with anticholinergic effects, memory problems, cognitive impairment, and an increased risk of dementia, particularly in older adults.
Someone tells you they need 30 minutes to cool down before continuing an argument. Red flag or green flag?
What is a green flag? This can be healthy emotional regulation.
Your anxiety tells you to cancel a job interview. What is a helpful CBT-based response?
Challenge the anxious prediction and attend despite discomfort.
This neurotransmitter is the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter and helps regulate anxiety and neuronal activity.
What is GABA?
You spend three hours replaying a conversation wondering whether you sounded stupid. What is this called?
What is rumination?
A patient taking lithium becomes dehydrated after a stomach bug. Why is this concerning?
Dehydration can increase lithium levels and cause toxicity.
Your friend cancels plans, but you immediately assume they hate you. What thinking error might be happening?
What is mind reading?
You are overwhelmed with 15 tasks and cannot start any of them. What strategy could help?
Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps and prioritize one.
You feel exhausted but cannot stop thinking about tomorrow's problems. What is this common experience called?
What is rumination? To stop rumination, practice recognizing repetitive thoughts, redirecting your attention to the present, challenging unhelpful thinking patterns, and shifting toward an activity or coping skill rather than continuing to analyze the thought.
In ERP, someone touches a doorknob and resists washing their hands repeatedly. What are they learning to tolerate?
What is uncertainty and anxiety without performing the compulsion?
A patient taking an SSRI starts St. John's wort and develops agitation, sweating, diarrhea, and tremors. What dangerous reaction is possible?
What is serotonin syndrome?
Your mother calls you 15 times because you haven't responded in an hour. What boundary might be appropriate?
What is communicating when you are available and setting limits on repeated calls?
You are upset after an argument and want to make a major life decision immediately. What should you do first?
Regulate emotions and delay major decisions until calmer, if safe to do so.
Your brain keeps scanning a room for danger even though nothing threatening is happening. What is this called?
What is hypervigilance? Hypervigilance is commonly associated with PTSD, anxiety disorders, panic disorder, OCD, and other conditions involving heightened threat sensitivity.
Your brain says, "What if something terrible happens?" What are two words that can help you practice uncertainty instead of seeking reassurance?
What is "Maybe, maybe not"?
Which metabolic labs should be monitored regularly in patients taking many second-generation antipsychotics?
What are glucose/A1c and lipid levels?
A person says, "I understand why you feel that way, even though I see it differently." What communication skill is this?
What is validation? Validation means acknowledging and accepting someone's feelings without judging, dismissing, or necessarily agreeing with them. It is important because it helps people feel heard, understood, emotionally supported, and less alone.
You have been doing well but notice you're isolating, sleeping poorly, and skipping medication. What is this an opportunity to recognize?
What are early warning signs of relapse?
Your brain changes and forms new connections as you learn, practice, and experience things. What is this ability called?
What is neuroplasticity?