Cycle 11 - Smarter Than BPD - Main Text Quiz

Using Cognitive Appraisal Theory to Improve Life Experience

• Cognitive Appraisal Theory can help break down events of life into smaller parts for self-improvement
• Many people live blindly, without noticing their thoughts and emotions, leading to chaos and drama
• Learning Cognitive Appraisal Theory can alter destructive behavior patterns in cases of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
• Personal interpretation/meaning of events is unique and influenced by past experiences, culture, values, etc.
• Emotions are our own making and not caused by external factors
• Self-talk is the internal dialogue that justifies our interpretations and can include cognitive distortions
• Self-talk can lead to judgments about ourselves and others
• The time frame between an event and experiencing an emotion is so fast that it can seem like emotions come out of nowhere
• Taking responsibility for our interpretations and emotions is a significant milestone in mental health
• The example illustrates how Cognitive Appraisal Theory helped the author reframe their thoughts and emotions about a driving incident
• The author's self-talk included cognitive distortions such as mind-reading, fortune-telling, and over-generalization
• The author was able to adjust their thoughts by considering unconsidered facts, leading to more rational thinking and acceptance of imperfection.