CBT for Performance Anxiety

Examples of Tom's online exercises

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Tom's Thought Challenge Exercises Watch the Stress Log Tutorial

Tom's Stress Log Example - 1

In this Stress Log Tom reports how he felt and describes some of the things going on in his mind over and over again while he was hoping to "perform" sexually.

Tom has challenged the thoughts in blue

Click on them to see his Thought Challenge exercises

3/13/2012 08:45 PM

Sitting in bed, Melanie undressing, no erection yet

Tense 90%

Down 80%

I should have an erection by now

100%

I am not going to have one

95%

I am not a "real" man

90%

She will end up leaving me or at least cheating on me

80%

Comments:

Previous bad experiences and assumptions about himself make Tom self-conscious and constantly pay attention to himself, rather than to the external situation. Our core beliefs and emotional state determine which situations we perceive.

"Predicting the future" is a common type of negative thought. Seeing the future so negatively makes Tom feel down and tense and prevents him from opening his mind to the possibility of good things happening.

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Tom's Stress Log Example - 2

This Stress Log is just one instance of a situation that happens very frequently to Tom. He describes the kind of feeling and related negative thinking he often has when talking to Melanie.

3/18/2012 05:45 PM

Talking to Melanie about what restaurant to go to

Depressed 95%

Irritated 8%

Tomorrow's presentation will be a disaster

100%

She always chooses where to go

95%

She wears the pants in our relationship

90%

She has no respect for me

90%

Comments:

Tom usually feels hurt after talking to Melanie. It is not what Melanie says, diurectly, but how Tom interprets what she says that hurts him. Therapists often inquire about the exact words that were used in a conversation in order to better understand facts, before they become distorted by the negative interpretation of a client under emotional distress.

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Tom's Stress Log Example - 3

In this Stress Log, Tom writes about his feeling and related negative thoughts he had when Melanie called to tell him she was going to be working late.

3/23/2012 05:45 PM

Melanie called and said she has to work late

Sad 95%

Anxious 75%

If I could perform sexually she wouldn't be coming home late

100%

She doesn't want to be with me

100%

She is cheating on me

90%

She is going to leave me

90%

Comments:

Tom has learned to differentiate between negative emotions and negative thoughts. He used to say he felt “cheated”, or that he felt like a “failure”. Now he knows that being cheated is an idea or a thought that causes intense feelings. He knows that it can be challenged.