The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Triangle tells us that our behavior, emotions, and thoughts are deeply intertwined. If one of these elements is out of whack, our whole lives can begin to spiral out of control. On the flipside of that, if we work to improve just one of these factors, there’s a high likelihood for the others to improve as well.
To find balance, we must learn to control all three aspects of our lives. For some people, the balance of these factors comes easily. For others, they must actively work at one or more of these components of well-being as they work to improve their mental health and quality of life. Someone with a diagnosis of depression, for instance, might be drowning in negative, maybe even suicidal, thoughts. As a result of these sad or hopeless thoughts, his or her emotions and behaviors are similarly affected. As you can imagine, it doesn’t take long for unwanted behaviors, emotions, or thoughts to negatively impact our ability to function on a day-to-day basis. In the midst of challenges, the strength to reach out for help is what matters most.
I’d say that I’m definitely the type of person who must actively be aware of how my thoughts, emotions, behaviors intertwine. Using my personal experiences and tips I have learned through my medical education, I will write posts that focus on each element of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Triangle. Hopefully, these posts will help you to get a better understanding of things that you can do to manage your behaviors, emotions, and thoughts.
POST 1 – Behavior: What we do affects how we think and feel
POST 2 – Emotions: What we feel affects what we think and do
POST 3 – Thoughts: What we think affects how we act and feel
The above information is my analysis of an existing psychology theory and is not intended to diagnose or treat. Please reach out to medical professionals if you or a loved one is in need of care.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
UPenn Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): 1-215- 898-7021
Peace and blessings,
Atasha Jordan, MD (to be)
Featured image photo credit: psdesign1
