ANTS (Automatic Negative Thoughts)

I want to discuss 5 ANTs or automatic negative thoughts.

1. Always Thinking: This happens when you think something that happened will always repeat itself. He’ll never stop drinking or getting high
2. Focusing on the Negative: this occurs when your thoughts only see the bad in a situation and ignore any of the good that might happen. -He is late picking me up, which means I’ll be up all evening cooking dinner; (not realizing he is late because he stopped to get her a dozen of roses to give her when he pulls up)
3. Fortune-telling: this is when you predict the worst possible outcome to a situation. -I’m not wearing this dress because people will laugh at me or think I look inappropriate.
4. Mind Reading: this happens when you believe you know what another person is thinking when they haven’t even told you. A lot of people do mind reading and more often than none, it gets them in trouble. -She didn’t say good morning to me today; she is mad at me.
5. Thinking with your feelings: This occurs when you believe your negative feelings without ever questioning them. - I probably won’t get the job anyway so I am not going to apply.