Depressive thoughts are persistent thoughts that amplify one’s feelings of sadness, and can worsen depressive symptoms. Psychologist Carl Jung suggests that accepting negative thoughts helps to disarm them, while resisting them only strengthens their power. Once clients name a negative thought, it can help create a distance between them and these thoughts.
The Depressive Thoughts Breakdown worksheet provides clients with a structured approach to reflecting on their thoughts and replacing negative patterns with healthier, more positive alternatives. It consists of three sections: Depression vs. Truth, which helps clients find alternatives to their depressive thoughts; Automatic Negative Thoughts, which identifies and challenges negative thinking; and Encouraging Thoughts, which allows them to write down thoughts that actually make them feel better.
As kids and teens complete this activity, they learn to gain a sense of control over their thoughts and emotions. To increase their awareness, they can also learn to identify specific triggers (situations, interactions, or internal states) that lead to these thoughts. Our Coping With Depression worksheet allows them to write down their triggers and identify coping skills.
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Want more resources like this? Check out our full catalog of depression worksheets and handouts.
References:
- Kelly, J. D. (2019). Your Best Life: Managing Negative Thoughts—The Choice is Yours. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 477(6), 1291–1293. https://doi.org/10.1097/corr.0000000000000791
- Moritz, S., Hörmann, C. C., Schröder, J., Berger, T., Jacob, G. A., Meyer, B., Holmes, E. A., Späth, C., Hautzinger, M., Lutz, W., Rose, M., & Klein, J. P. (2013). Beyond words: Sensory properties of depressive thoughts. Cognition and Emotion, 28(6), 1047-1056. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2013.868342
- Okumusoglu, S. (2017). Examination of depressive tendencies via negative automatic thoughts in University students. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.12973/ejmste/79633
