Difference between Thoughts and Feelings Worksheet
By
HappierTherapy
Author bio
The Happier Therapy editorial team is made up of Masters and PhD counselling psychologists. Each worksheet is created by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The worksheet then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.
Download Worksheet
Thoughts are ideas, perceptions, or opinions produced by thinking, or occurring suddenly in the mind, whereas feelings are reactions to emotions, sensations, or other brain interpretations around us.
Thoughts give us a perspective or something to hold onto, whereas feelings are mental associations. Until we learn how to notice our thoughts and question them, automatic thoughts will give rise to feelings, positive or negative.
What Are The Theories Behind This Worksheet?
- Cognitive Restructuring
This therapeutic technique has been successfully used to help people identify, challenge, and alter their negative/ distorted thinking patterns and beliefs.
- Exposure Therapy
This therapy gradually exposes individuals to places, thoughts, or situations that create anxiety or fear in an effort to control and overcome those emotions.
- Mindfulness
This is the act of focusing your attention on the present moment, noticing and accepting the thoughts and feelings that show up rather than judging or worrying about them.
- Behavioral Activation (BA)
This therapy involves decreasing our avoidance and increasing our involvement in activities we value. BA also teaches us how our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are linked.
How Will This Worksheet Help You?
This worksheet will help you identify, challenge, and replace negative/ distorted thinking patterns with more accurate, effective, and positive thoughts.
This worksheet will also teach you how to constructively experience different types of feelings to improve your mental health.
How Should You Use This Worksheet?
This worksheet should be used when you feel trapped in a certain mindset or can’t escape certain thoughts and feelings negatively pulling you down.
This worksheet can serve as your self-reflective tool to manage and control your thoughts and feelings.
Was this helpful?
References
1.-
Christie Campus Health. (© 2023). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Learning how our thoughts, emotions, and behavior influence each other. Available at: https://www.christiecampus.com/stay-informed/blog/september-2019-(1)/cognitive-behavioral-therapy. [Accessed on: February 15, 2023]
2.-
Living The Mess: Inner Peace for Overthinking. (© 2014 – 2023). How to Differentiate Between Thoughts and Feelings. Available at: https://www.livingthemess.com/how-to-differentiate-between-thoughts-and-feelings/. [Accessed on: February 15, 2023]
3.-
PEDIAA. (© 2017). What is the Difference Between Thoughts and Feelings? Available at: https://pediaa.com/what-is-the-difference-between-thoughts-and-feelings/. [Accessed on: February 15, 2023]
