Should Statements Worksheet

A should statement is a cognitive distortion where individuals impose a negative thinking pattern of rigid and often unrealistic expectations on themselves or others, typically leading to feelings of guilt or failure when these expectations are not met.

To manage should statements, identify and challenge their validity, reframe them into more flexible and realistic thoughts, and practice mindfulness to reduce their impact on your emotional well-being.

Should statements are also known as "mustrubation," "necessitous thinking," "self-commands," and "injunctions," reflecting their demanding and often counterproductive nature.