Thoughts, emotions and behaviours are all linked. Negative thoughts can lead to anxiety and depression which can affect the way we behave which can reinforce our negative thoughts.

Often negative thoughts are automatic – we don’t notice them. That’s why they’re called negative automatic thoughts.

Becoming aware of the common thinking errors we all slip into (such as fortune telling or mind reading) helps us to notice negative automatic thoughts.

For example, fortune telling is when we have negative thoughts about the future. These thoughts often feel like facts even though no one knows what will happen.

One way of dealing with a negative automatic thought is simply to observe it and allow it to pass by. Often, this involves using imagery.

Another way to deal with a negative automatic thought is to look at the evidence for and against it. As you do this, all that’s needed is to begin to doubt the certainty of the thought.