David A Clark - The Negative Thoughts Workbook: CBT Skills to Overcome the Repetitive Worry, Shame, and Rumination That Drive Anxiety and Depression

The Negative Thoughts Workbook offers a plethora of excellent, evidence-based, and well-presented strategies to address repetitive negative thinking related to anxiety and depression. If you engage in this type of thinkingand we all do from time to timethis book will help you to recognize your thought patterns and implement effective ways to change them. Written in an engaging and practical style by one of the worlds experts in the psychology of negative thinking, you will benefit from reading this book and using the skills it offers.

Keith S. Dobson, PhD , professor of clinical psychology at the University of Calgary, and president of the World Confederation of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies

Repetitive negative thoughts can be distressing, and interfere with our daily lives. In this excellent and clearly written workbook, David Clark gives you concrete strategies and practical solutions to deal with worry, rumination, regret, shame, humiliation, and resentment. This masterfully written and resourceful book will change your life. A must-read.

Stefan G. Hofmann, PhD , professor at Boston University, and author of The Anxiety Skills Workbook

If you are struggling with repetitive negative thoughts causing anxiety, depression, regret, shame, guilt, humiliation, anger, or resentment, this clearly written and practical workbook can really help. As a world-renowned psychologist and researcher, David Clark integrates a range of cognitive-behavioral approaches to provide you with an effective, step-by-step guide to help you overcome repetitive negative thoughts. I will certainly be recommending this workbook to my patients, students, and colleagues.

Costas Papageorgiou, DClinPsy, PhD , coauthor of Coping with Depression , and coeditor of Depressive Rumination

Here is an outstanding guide that helps people find freedom from the painful thoughts that make life miserable. David Clarkone of the most knowledgeable and esteemed experts of our timedistills the essentials into a single book. This is a comprehensive course that teaches you leading-edge approaches to free your mind from disturbing thoughts and emotions. I consider it essential reading for all those with a sticky mind.

Martin N. Seif, PhD, ABPP , founder of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), and coauthor of What Every Therapist Needs to Know About Anxiety Disorders , Overcoming Unwanted Intrusive Thoughts , and Needing to Know for Sure

Following a negative life experience, most of us have had the experience of reliving the event in our minds, wondering why it happened and whether life will ever be the same. This repetitive negative thought process only serves to fuel emotional pain and suffering. Using thought-provoking exercises and illustrative case examples, The Negative Thoughts Workbook by David Clark teaches readers how to interrupt rumination and use effective strategies to move beyond disappointment, regret, and resentment. This book is extremely readable, and offers countless techniques that readers can tackle independently without the guidance of a therapist. It is a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to worry less and live a more productive, meaningful life in the present moment.

Deborah Roth Ledley, PhD , licensed psychologist in private practice in Philadelphia, PA; and coauthor of The Worry Workbook for Kids

David Clark is a go-to expert in understanding and overcoming negative thoughts. In this book, he brings together his scholarship and clinical experience to create an easy-to-use and highly effective guide to dealing with a wide range of negative thoughts that can otherwise plague our mood and ability to get things done. Highly recommended!

Christine Purdon, PhD, CPsych , professor in the department of psychology at the University of Waterloo, and coauthor of Overcoming Obsessive Thoughts

This is a timely and important book for those with anxiety and depression issues. It is increasingly recognized that dealing with rumination, worry, and shame is important to these and other problems. David Clark has worldwide recognition as a leading therapist, and has published widely in this academic area. He has used these skills in developing an accessible and helpful workbook that I would recommend to clients and therapists alike.

Richard Moulding, PhD , senior lecturer at Deakin University in Australia, editor in chief of Clinical Psychologist , and coeditor of The Self in Understanding and Treating Psychological Disorders

Instead of writing one or several books on anxiety, depression, guilt, anger, or other distressing emotions, David Clark takes us to what is behind these emotions: namely repetitive negative thinking like worry or rumination. Using the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and excellent and handy worksheets and exercisesand in a very kind, user friendly, step-by-step wayClark helps us get rid of repetitive negative thoughts and related feelings.

Gregoris Simos, MD, PhD , professor of psychopathology in the department of educational and social policy at the University of Macedonia in Greece

David Clarks The Negative Thoughts Workbook is one of the most lucid and accessible workbooks I have seen. Solidly based in the latest scientific evidence, this workbook by one of the worlds leading experts provides the reader with the information, self-assessment tools, and step-by-step exercises that can help them to get more control over feelings of anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other emotional problems.

John H. Riskind, PhD , professor of psychology at George Mason University, and coauthor of Looming Vulnerability

Publishers Note

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books

Copyright 2020 by David A. Clark

New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

5674 Shattuck Avenue

Oakland, CA 94609

www.newharbinger.com

Cover design by Amy Daniel; Acquired by Ryan Buresh; Edited by Gretel Hakanson

All Rights Reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Clark, David A., 1954- author.

Title: The negative thoughts workbook : CBT skills to overcome the repetitive worry, shame, and rumination that drive anxiety and depression / David A. Clark.

Description: Oakland, CA : New Harbinger Publications, [2020] | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020013661 (print) | LCCN 2020013662 (ebook) | ISBN 9781684035052 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9781684035076 (epub) | ISBN 9781684035069 (pdf)

Subjects: LCSH: Intrusive thoughts. | Anxiety--Prevention. | Affective disorders. | Cognitive therapy.

Classification: LCC RC531 .C536 2020 (print) | LCC RC531 (ebook) | DDC 616.85/22--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020013661

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020013662

Contents

Foreword

Is your mind hijacked by intrusive repetitive negative thoughts? Perhaps you worry that things will fall apart, that you wont get that work done, that your boss will be angry at you, or that your plane may crash. You may find yourself losing sleep because you worry that you will lose sleepand then you worry that you wont be able to function the next day. Or perhaps your repetitive negative thoughts (RNT) focus on past mistakes, mishaps, poor choices, or regrets that seem to follow you around no matter how well things are going today. You are anchored to the pastto these ruminations that creep into your troubled mind and deprive you of the ability to enjoy the present moment. No need to worry any further because this book will help you let go of the thoughts that plague you while you focus on solving real problems in real time in the real world.