UNDERSTANDING & AWARENESS EXERCISE

UNDERSTANDING & AWARENESS EXERCISE

Published On: July 21, 2014

This exercise takes into consideration your environment, body, emotions, behaviours, and thoughts. It’s a first step in understanding your current circumstances and trying to gain some awareness and perspective. It may be helpful to jot down some notes or journal about each section.

• Environmental changes / Life situations:
  Have I experienced any recent changes?
  What have been the most stressful events for me in the past year? 3 years?
  List other significant events or circumstances that come to mind.
• Physical Reactions:
  What physical symptoms trouble me such as: changes in energy level, appetite,sleep, weight gain or loss? Are there specific physical symptoms such as increased rapid heart rate, breathing difficulty, or pain?
• Moods:
  What words describe my overall mood?

  Content	happy	sad	nervous	angry
  Guilty	depressed	frightened	proud	cheerful
  Disappointed	anxious	irritated	ashamed	insecure
  Enraged	loving	hopeful	hopeless	panicky

  Other mood words I want to add:

• Behaviours:
  What things do I do that I would like to change or improve? At work? At home? With friends? By myself?
• Thoughts:
  When I have strong moods, what thoughts do I have about myself? Other people? My future? What thoughts interfere with doing things I would like to do or think I should do? What images or memories come into my mind?

Sources:
Mind Over Mood, Greenberger & Padesky
The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook, Bourne