discomfort will pass after a short time. In reality, the consequences of making a mistake 
or of embarrassing yourself are usually minimal and almost never last very long. Even if 
people notice that you have made a mistake or that you appear to be anxious, they are 
likely to forget about it after a few minutes. 
We have included a Decatastrophizing Form toward the end of this chapter to help 
you challenge your catastrophic thoughts in social situations. The form includes three 
columns. In the ﬁrst column, you should describe the situation that led you to feel 
anxious. In the second column, describe your anxious thoughts and predictions. Now, 
ask the questions provided in the previous bulleted list (such as, “So what?”) and record 
your noncatastrophic responses in the third column. Following are some examples.