In this session we’ll look at how your thoughts affect how you feel and what you do. We’ll also look at some ways to think more positively and feel better.
What are thoughts?

Thoughts are words or comments that pop into our heads. We are constantly thinking about things.
Thoughts could describe what’s happening around us or could be comments about ourselves.
For example…
What we like
‘I love fish and chips’, ‘I hate my job’
How we see ourselves
“I have lots of friends’,’ I’m fat’, ‘I’m caring’, ‘I’m a nice person’, ‘I’m ugly’
How we judge what we do
‘I’m good at sport’, ‘I’m good at making friends’, ‘I’m useless when I meet new people’
Our view of the future
‘No-one will ever go out with me’, ‘I’m not going to get to university’, ‘I’m going to be famous’, ‘I’m looking forward to having a job and earning money’
Thoughts can be about other people
‘That person’s really irritating me’, ‘I really fancy you’.
Thoughts are important because they effect how we feel and what we do.

The Think, Feel, Do link
Our thoughts, feelings and behaviours all affect each other.





The thought “this is a great way to spend a weekend” will probably make you feel happy.

The thought “I look good in these clothes” may make you feel confident.

The thought “no-one cares about me” will probably make you feel sad.

The thoughts “I bet they’ll stare at me” will probably make you feel anxious.
Some of these feelings aren’t very strong and don’t last, but sometimes unpleasant feelings like anxiety, unhappiness and anger take over and last a long time.


If you’re feeling sad you might become quiet and not want to talk to friends and family.

If you’re feeling anxious about meeting people you may be shy, irritable or avoid going out all together. You may feel happier staying at home.
Click on the different parts of the diagram below to see how negative thoughts and feelings can affect what you do.


SCARED Model
The SCARED model is a good example of the Think, Feel, Do link. It explains:
How your feelings can effect your behaviour
How other people’s feelings can effect their behaviour
If you’re ‘SCARED’….
See what happens to your behaviour if you feel ‘SCARED’.







If other people are ‘SCARED’…
See what happens to other people’s behaviour if they feel ‘SCARED’:







By learning that both you and the person you’re socialising with are having lots of difficult thoughts and feelings, you can start to understand why things go wrong. With a bit of support and some patience it’s possible to use the SCARED model to improve difficult social situations.