The average human has 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day—up to 41.6 thoughts a minute. That makes the brain an incredibly busy organ!

The National Science Foundation estimates that 80 percent of daily thoughts are negative, and of these, 95 percent are repetitive. It’s no wonder so many of us are stuck in a cycle of negativity and rumination.

For some, these negative thoughts can lead to additional stress and perhaps feelings of frustration with day-to-day life.

For others, the vicious cycle leads to anxiety, depression, and even chronic health conditions that impact physical health. As much as you want to turn to healthy coping methods, it’s easier to fall into unhealthy habits like obsessive or addictive behavior.The cycle continues as mental health only suffers more.

Therapy seems like the only solution, but where do you start? Can you afford it? And do you really want to be opening up to a complete stranger?

While it's true that in some cases, therapy with a professional is the best solution, however, thanks to the gaining popularity of cognitive behavioral therapy, you can get a better understanding of and take control over your mental health.

In this guide to CBT, you will discover:

• What CBT consists of and the wide range of health problems it can treat
• How the thought process works, and the intricate relationship between emotions and behaviors
• 16 cognitive distortions and how they can add to negative thought patterns
• The challenges that come about from automatic negative thoughts, rumination, and the negativity bias
• A free worksheet to track negative thoughts and nine simple steps to reframe them
• The dangers of stress and how this can quickly escalate into bigger problems
• 13 techniques to manage stress, anxiety, and depression
• 20 journal prompts to help you start processing thoughts and emotions
• The body’s response to a panic attack and effective ways to calm the body and mind
• CBT strategies for OCD, addictions, self-harm, and eating disorders