Cognitive change
Connection between events, thoughts and reactions (emotions & behaviours)
You can learn about the relationship between an event, our thoughts and reactions with the following example:
You are in bed, late at night, when suddenly
you hear shattering glass.
Imagine that you think someone broke into your home.
• How do you feel? Probably scared ...
• What would you do? Lie quietly under the blanket? run away? Look for the armed intruder?
Now imagine that you think your cat knocked a glass off the counter.
• How do you feel now? You are likely to be upset or frustrated but probably a little less scared and even feel a little relieved - at least there are no thieves ...
• What would you do? Check that the cat is fine, sweep up the pieces and go back to sleep ...
What we have seen here is that there is a mutual connection between our thoughts and our behaviors and emotions. When we think in a certain way our emotions and behaviors are affected and vice versa: when we act or feel in a certain way it affects our thoughts.
On the next page you will learn how our thoughts also play an important role in anxiety from the coronavirus.