Stress occurs when we perceive something as threatening and believe we don't have what it takes to cope with it. We can change how we respond to stress by changing these perceptions or beliefs. There are typical patterns of "stressed" thinking that people get stuck in.



All-or-Nothing

Most of life is not "completely great" or "horribly bad." But when we are stressed, we are more likely to think in absolutes. These kinds of thoughts often include the words "always" and "never." For example, you might tell yourself, "I will never feel good again!" Or, "Bad things always happen to me!"

Are either of these statements really true?

Catastrophic Thinking

Similar to "all-or-nothing" thinking, this is where we tell ourselves that the worst will happen or that a situation is horrific and intolerable. Do you ever find yourself thinking of the worst-case scenario and then believing or even acting as if it will happen? For example, you hear there is a chance of rain on your day off and you tell yourself, "Now my entire day will be ruined."

Having unrealistic expectations