depression.
Here’s	a	common	example	I	see	often	in	my	psychology	practice:	A	client,
Emma,	had	a	repetitive	worry	that	she	was	in	danger	of	being	kicked	out	of
her	graduate	program.	Each	time	something	went	wrong	with	an	assignment
or	she	received	an	average	grade,	a	chain	of	uncontrollable	thoughts	would
ensue.	She	was	afraid	her	professors	thought	she	was	incompetent.	She
second-guessed	herself	in	class	and	when	she	spoke	out	was	extremely	self-
conscious.	Then	she	worried	about	what	the	other	students	thought	of	her.
Emma	believed	she	wasn’t	as	intellectually	competent	as	her	peers.	She
would	beat	herself	up	for	always	worrying:	“What’s	wrong	with	me?	I’m	so
crazy.	I	can’t	stop	worrying!”