Understanding Thoughts, Emotions & Behaviours

Our thoughts create our emotions and our emotions determine our behaviour.

We can begin to explore what emotions we are feeling by paying attention to what is going on in our mind and body.

Here are some questions to have a think about that will help you to connect to your mind and body.

What emotion am I experiencing?
What am I thinking?
What can I notice in my body?
Where do I feel it?

We can use emotional regulation skills to change our emotions or situations. When we experience strong, negative emotions, it is easy to get caught in the cycle or emotional addiction or a stress cycle. This can lead to unhelpful or destructive behavioural and thought patterns.