Social Skills for the Overthinker

Thus, in solving the anxiety problem, we free ourselves up to engage with socializing for what it is: a safe, neutral skill that can be learned and mastered, just like any other skill.

problem is that she is overthinking—and it’s making everything worse.

Is the thought I’m having or the story I’m telling helpful to me?
Do I have any evidence for the conclusions I’m making here?
Can I replace these thoughts with something a little more moderate

difference it makes to talk about your experiences versus your identity

absolute qualities and traits instead of transitory behaviors and events.

always, never, everyone, none, forever, completely, nothing.

rather that you’re getting into the habit of not assuming that your first assessment is correct, and that it is possible to think more accurately and helpfully about a situation.

Whenever you experience emotions or thoughts, try to label them separately.

Feelings can often be summarized in one word (e.g., happy, scared), while thoughts are the ideas that drive or follow those feelings.

Jaime felt that not only was the supervisor angry/annoyed (mind reading) but also that she herself was the cause for it (personalizing).