Handout 7

Real Life Applications:

You saw in handout 6 one application of this method of thinking, but here are a few more examples just to get you a little more familiar and in the habit of thinking way ahead of yourself for potential consequences that may not seem obvious at first thought.

  1. You've an acquaintance who is becoming ever-more-dependent upon you for advice and emotional support to the point that you dread the telephone and/or the doorbell ringing . This friend seems to move from crisis to crisis and you're beginning to feel drained and exhausted from his/hers constant need of support. What would you do to address this situation?
  2. You are seeing a psychiatrist or therapist that you are not happy with. Each time you visit him/her you come away feeling worse than when you went for the appointment. What course of action should you take and why?  
  3. A friend of yours is talking about suiciding and you really think they might carry it through, but they've held you tight to a promise not to tell anyone. What should you do in this case?  
  4. You're having a very hard time concentrating and being productive at work and the situation seems to be worsening. What might be your best course of action. Assume you need this job badly and think you can't afford to quit it.  
  5. You've taken your medications for being bipolar religiously, but now they seem not to be working and you are wondering if the side-effects you suffer are worth staying on the drugs. What is your next course of action?

These are just a few incidents you may or may not face. Answer them as best you can before looking at the potential answers I offer on the next page. When you think you've thought of all the possible outcomes for each question, then go to the next page to see how well you did in looking for potential consequences.