How do you introduce a thought record?
The first step in completing a thought record is to note down some information about the situation or context in which you noticed this change in emotion. This will help you (and your therapist) to understand more about this event, and about what your particular triggers are. Thoughts records for social anxiety (also known as thought diaries) are a way of understanding and changing your negative thought patterns. The cognitive-behavioral model of therapy holds that emotions and behaviors can be changed because they are (at least partly) the result of your thoughts. If CBT is working for you, you should notice explicit behavioral changes (i.e., the ability to approach situations that you feared or to function better when depressed). With your therapist, take time to reflect on your treatment goals and discuss the progress being made. The ABC Thought Record is a tool to help you identify your pathogenic beliefs and evaluate their veracity. It is to be used as soon as possible after an incident that evoked a strong emotional state, or an emotional state that was stronger than the situation demanded.