{"id":1671,"date":"2019-05-14T09:32:18","date_gmt":"2019-05-14T09:32:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lancaster.ac.uk\/reacttoolkit\/?page_id=1671"},"modified":"2025-10-20T08:40:04","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T08:40:04","slug":"how-can-i-think-differently","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.lancaster.ac.uk\/reacttoolkit\/toolkit\/managing-stress-think-differently\/how-can-i-think-differently\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can I Think Differently?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Thinking differently is NOT about pretending things are fine when they are not. It\u2019s not about \u2018positive thinking\u2019. It\u2019s about taking a step back and looking at the situation from all angles to get a full picture.<\/p>\n

There is no denying that being a relative of someone experiencing psychosis or bipolar can be very distressing. However, making sure you don\u2019t fall into these negative thinking traps can help to reduce distress and keep a sense of hope.<\/p>\n

There are Two Key Steps<\/h4>\n

Step 1. Recognise thinking traps<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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\nThe next time something happens that makes you feel distressed or upset, see if you can write down your thoughts. Then, use the previous list on page \u2018Common Thinking Traps\u2019 to see if you might be falling into a thinking trap. You could keep a log of your distressing thoughts \u2013 and practice coming back to them and see if you can spot the thinking traps.<\/p>\n

Step 2. Test your thought<\/h4>\n

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\nDon\u2019t assume your first thought is the only one; put it through some tests first.<\/p>\n

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  • Is there any evidence for it?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
      \n
    • Is there any evidence that suggests it might not be wholly true?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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      • Do I need to gather some more evidence?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
          \n
        • Could I look at this situation from a different point of view?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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          • \n
              \n
            • Discuss your thought with a friend \/ supporter or relatives in the REACT GROUP \u2013 maybe they have a different point of view that might be useful to consider?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Watch Julie discuss her experience of learning to see things differently<\/h4>\n