Chain analysis: one thing leads to another

When we analyse difficult situations in CBT, we ask two fundamental questions: "Was the way I thought about a situation accurate, logical and helpful?"; and, "Was the way I acted in that situation constructive in the short and long term?"

By using chain analysis (sometimes called functional analysis) we can revisit a situation that we'd like to understand better and break it down into its component parts. This process of analysing our thoughts, feelings, physical reactions and behaviour can help us to choose alternative ways of thinking and acting that have better consequences for our mental wellbeing and our relationships.

We start by asking about the factors that made us sensitive or vulnerable to being triggered even before the difficult situation arose; in other words, "What set me up?" Perhaps we had already been having a challenging day, or we were feeling tired, run down or frustrated?

Next, we ask about the trigger that caused our reaction: in other words, "What set me off?" Perhaps it was something someone said or did that hit a raw nerve?

Next, we ask "What was my immediate reaction?" Here, your feelings are a good guide: ask yourself, "What was the strongest emotion I felt and what physical sensations did I experience?" Emotions include anger, sadness, anxiety, shame, guilt, embarrassment, surprise, happiness, and so on. Physical sensations include tingling, butterflies in the stomach, tightness in the chest, pain, tension, feelings of unreality, and so on.

Once we have an idea of what set us up, what set us off, and what we felt in response, we can ask ourselves, "What was going through my mind at the time?" It can be difficult to remember exactly what we were thinking, so feel free to take some time, close your eyes and try to imagine yourself back in the situation. You might try asking yourself, "What assumptions was I making?", or "Did this situation remind me of another time in my life?"

Our behaviour is driven by our perception of what is happening (our thoughts about the situation) and the emotion we feel at the time. If our thoughts are our view of the road ahead, then emotion is the fuel in the engine of behaviour. So, it is important to ask ourselves, "Given the way I was thinking and feeling, what did I do?" or, "If I had a video of what happened, what would I see?"

Finally, we ask, "What were the consequences?" Actions that get rewarded tend to get repeated. Sometimes the reward is the gratification we feel when we get something that we like. Sometimes the reward is the relief we feel when we managed to avoid something that we anticipated would be unpleasant. Our behaviour is often directed towards immediate consequences, even if in the long-term they can be unhelpful. It can be challenging to keep in mind the long-term consequences of our behaviour at a time when we have very strong feelings, so it can be useful to reflect on how well our actions served both our short and long-term interests. This information can help us to plan and practise how to react in similar situations in the future.

When we have completed a chain analysis, we should have a better idea how one thing led to another. This can be useful for us to take a step back and think about the ways in which we might have thought about a situation differently, or chosen to behave in a more helpful way.