In CBT steps, which step asks you to describe how your body reacts?

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

Answer: (A)

In CBT, part of understanding how a situation becomes distressing is paying attention to the body’s physical signals. When you describe how your body reacts, you’re mapping the physiological arousal that accompanies a feeling—like a racing heart, tense muscles, or quick breathing. These bodily cues help you recognize when anxiety or stress is taking hold, which in turn makes it easier to apply calming techniques or challenge the interpretation of the situation. This step sits between what triggered the reaction and what you were thinking, and before you decide what to do, because bodily symptoms often drive both thoughts and actions. The other steps focus on the trigger, the thoughts, or the behavior, but they don’t capture the physical sensations that reveal the strength and quality of the emotional response.