Much is said about how our thoughts influence our lives. This idea makes sense at a basic level, since much of what you do — from getting a drink of water to applying for a new job — originates as a thought.

Further, many of your thoughts are habitual, based on how you perceived something in the past. Perhaps you were once chased by a dog and now, even twenty years later, whenever you see a dog you react with fear and the fight-or-flight reaction. Your responses to dogs are still rooted in your thoughts about dogs, thoughts that were formed many years in the past. Cognitive behavior therapy strives to alter those thoughts and create a new response to stimuli, with the goal of relieving stress and anxiety.

CBT is based on the idea that your thoughts cause your feelings and behaviors, and that rather than try to change an impossible situation, you can change your thoughts about it to feel better. A good way to practice CBT is to find a therapist that specializes in it.