. 2001 Nov;175(5):338–342. doi: 10.1136/ewjm.175.5.338

Table 2.

*Questions that can help patients discover less-distressing alternative thoughts*
What experiences have you had that show you that this thought is not completely true all of the time? If you were trying to help someone you loved who had a similar thought in the same situation, what would you tell him? What would they tell you if they knew that you were thinking about things in this way? Do you think about things this way when you are feeling less distressed? How do you think about things at these times? What is the worst thing that could happen? What is the best outcome? What is the most realistic outcome? Might you be underestimating the chances of your being able to do something to lessen your distress? What is the evidence to support your distressing thought? Is this the only way of looking at things? Are you basing your thought on how you feel as opposed to how it actually is?

Questions that can help patients discover less-distressing alternative thoughts

What experiences have you had that show you that this thought is not completely true all of the time?
If you were trying to help someone you loved who had a similar thought in the same situation, what would you tell him?
What would they tell you if they knew that you were thinking about things in this way?
Do you think about things this way when you are feeling less distressed? How do you think about things at these times?
What is the worst thing that could happen? What is the best outcome? What is the most realistic outcome?
Might you be underestimating the chances of your being able to do something to lessen your distress?
What is the evidence to support your distressing thought? Is this the only way of looking at things? Are you basing your thought on how you feel as opposed to how it actually is?