· Demand for Approval | We believe that others must always treat us well. We must have love or approval most of the time to be worthy. |
· High Self Expectations | We believe that we must achieve success in everything we do to be worthwhile; if we make mistakes we are a failure as a person. |
· Dependency | We believe we need to depend on someone or something stronger than ourselves because we cannot cope with life by ourselves. |
· Helplessness | We believe our present problems, feelings and behaviours are caused by our past, this is how we are and we are helpless to change it. |
· Emotional Control | We believe our feelings are caused by external pressures such as other people so we cannot control or change our emotions. |
· Blame Proneness | We believe ourselves and others, must not do anything wrong, that certain behaviours are awful or wicked and deserve punishment. |
· Personal Idealism | We believe that the world and other people must be fair and just at all times. |
· Frustration Reactivity | We find it difficult and frustrating when things or people are not the way we would like them to be. |
· Problem Avoidance | We believe that it is easier to avoid rather than face life’s difficulties and responsibilities. |
· Discomfort Anxiety | We want to be comfortable, without pain, and free from anxiety at all times; we believe we would find it difficult to cope otherwise. |
· Perfectionism | We want to be in control of all situations and believe things must go well; people and thingsshould turn out better than they do. |
· Anxious Over Concern | We feel anxious when faced with uncertain or risky situations. We constantly worry and are on our guard in case they might happen. |
· Over Caring | We feel we should become upset over our own and other people’s problems, those who don’t are uncaring, and uncompassionate people. |
· Fear of Losing Control | When stressed or anxious we worry we are not in control, “going mad”, having a “nervous breakdown” and/or be admitted to hospital. |
