In CBT steps, which action corresponds to the first step?

• A. Identify trigger
• B. What goes through your head
• C. How do you feel
• D. What do you do

Answer: (A)

In CBT, you think of a distressing response as a sequence that starts with a triggering situation. The first step is identifying the trigger—the event or circumstance that kicked everything off. Naming this trigger gives you a concrete starting point and helps you see how later thoughts, feelings, and actions flow from that initial moment. If you don’t pinpoint the trigger, it’s harder to understand why your mind and body respond the way they do and to challenge the automatic interpretations that follow. After identifying the trigger, you would analyze the thoughts that go through your head, then recognize the feelings and, finally, the behaviors.