CBT and How It Impacts Me

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, might sound like some complicated term you’d hear in a psychology class, but it’s really just a way of training your brain to think and act differently. It’s a pretty cool tool to have, especially when life starts to feel overwhelming—which, let’s be real, happens to everyone.

CBT is like having a mental toolkit that helps you figure out what’s really going on in your head. It’s based on the idea that your thoughts, feelings, and actions are all connected. For example, feeling super anxious about an upcoming test might lead to thoughts like, “I’m going to fail,” which makes you stressed and might even cause procrastination instead of studying. CBT helps you catch those thoughts, challenge them, and replace them with something more realistic like, “I’ve studied and done okay on tests before, so I can handle this.”

The process usually involves working with a therapist who helps guide you through recognizing patterns in your thinking. It’s not just about telling yourself to “be positive”—it’s about being realistic. If your brain is constantly tricking you into thinking the worst, CBT helps you fact-check those thoughts so you’re not being controlled by fears or assumptions that aren’t true.

One of the most practical aspects of CBT is how it gives you exercises and strategies you can use in real life. For instance, it might teach you how to break big tasks into smaller, manageable steps to tackle procrastination, or how to use breathing techniques to calm down when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

CBT isn’t just for people with serious mental health issues. It’s helpful for anyone dealing with stress, anxiety, or even everyday challenges. Many teenagers, including me, struggle with pressure from school, social media, and figuring out who we are. CBT helps by teaching healthier ways to respond to tough situations.

I’ve personally tried using some CBT techniques, and while I’m definitely not perfect at it, I can tell it makes a difference. Even just stopping to consider whether a thought is true has helped me calm down in moments when I’d normally spiral.

In the end, CBT is about understanding yourself better and learning how to take control of your thoughts instead of letting them control you.