Archives for February 2015

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a type of short-term psychotherapy used to analyze the relationship between behavior, thoughts, and feelings. Unlike other forms of psychotherapy in which the patient reflects upon their thoughts and feelings with the therapists as a guide, in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy the patient and therapist work together actively in order to heal. This method is used to treat a variety of mental disorders including anxiety disorders, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is problem focused and action based. It is often viewed as a rigorous form of therapy because there is a great deal of work and self reflection that comes with it; however, it is also an extremely beneficial form of therapy.

Benefit #1: Support
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy provides a support network for people recovering from mental disorders. Since it is action-based, patients know they have someone to turn to as they work through their problem. Knowing that there is someone interested in them and their recovery allows patients to work toward changing negative behaviors.

Benefit #2: Raises Self-Esteem
For many people, low self-esteem is at the root of their disorder. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy allows patients to build self-esteem by focusing on problems and working toward the solution. As patients find answers their belief in themselves grows and they are able to conquer the disorder.

Benefit #3:Creation of Positive Thought
With many mental disorders, negative thought patterns emerge and take over the life of the patient. Negative thinking becomes automatic with many patients. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches patients how to turn negative thoughts into positive, realistic ones.

Benefit #4: Anger Management
Controlling one’s anger and learning to direct anger is a major issue with the mentally ill patient. Patients feel guilt and shame and these feelings turn into anger at the world. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy addresses the underlying issues that allow emotions to become overwhelming. It teaches patients various methods to help control emotional responses and to assist them in recognizing the reasons behind the anger.

Benefit #5: Better Communication Skills
Maintaining relationships is difficult when suffering from depression, addiction, and social anxiety. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps patients to learn how to communicate their feelings to others without becoming anger or feeling shame.

Benefit #6: Coping Skills Improve
The cause of many disorders is an inability to cope with stressful situations such as grief or trauma. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy provides patients avenues to deal with such situations. They learn to express themselves instead of bottling things up.

Benefit #7: Relapse Prevention
Patients suffering from mental disorders often relapse. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy provides patients with the tools they need to prevent relapses. Because patients have learned to identify their problems and learned coping methods, they are better equipped to recognize the thought patterns they need to avoid.

This is not to say that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy provides instant success. It is short term and it requires hard work, but the benefits of it are worth it all.

It is natural to “feel blue”, “be down in the dumps”, or just plain sad. Every one feels this way at some point in their lives, but usually the feeling lifts and all is back to normal. Sadly, there are people who stay this way all the time. The feelings are all often lumped under the term depression, but there is a difference between feeling blue and being clinically depressed.

Feeling Blue or Down in the Dumps
For most people feeling sad is a temporary state that lifts over time. Feeling sadness is part of a person’s emotional makeup. Even when feeling a bit down people can still manage their lives and perform all the necessary tasks. When feeling sad people may feel hopeless, but the instinct to push forward kicks in and allows them to live their lives and shake off the sadness. There are no physical symptoms that accompany being blue.

Clinical Depression
People who suffer clinical depression are in a constant state of feeling overwhelmed and helpless. Without medical treatment, the person may stay this way for months or even years. True depression in the clinical sense interferes with work, relationships, and life in general. In addition to the feelings and difficulties, the clinically depressed person will also suffer physically with weight loss or weight gain, fatigue, headaches, loss of interest in hobbies or activities, and feelings of guilt, helplessness, and even abandonment. When you feel sad this is brought on by life’s events: loss of a job, death of a loved one, etc. Clinical depression is often brought on by excessive stress as well as genetic factors. Your lifestyle choices, relationships, and coping skills all contribute to the issue.

Seeking Medical Intervention
Clinical Depression is a serious health problem. If you are suffering from depression you may have suicidal thoughts. Talk to a friend, a family member, or a clergyman. Even if suicidal thoughts are not present the chemical imbalance brought on by physical symptoms can make even the slightest task seem impossible. If you suffer from “feeling blue” for two weeks of more you need to seek medical advice. Make an appointment to speak with your healthcare provider or a therapist. Clinical depression can be managed with drug therapy, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. There is no shame involved in suffering from overwhelming feelings of sadness. If you know someone who is clinically depressed be supportive, listen to them, and don’t brush off their feelings. Help them get the help they need to live again.