Posted by mist on July 7, 2002, at 22:48:09
In reply to Anyone interested in CBT? Let's talk!, posted by MattDDS on July 7, 2002, at 13:48:14
Matt,
This thread is a good idea.
I have tried some of the techniques in Feeling Good. The most common thought distortion that I identified in myself was what Burns calls "fortune telling." A lot of the thinking that causes or comes from my depression is about the future. The hopelessness of the future. Some of this has to do with the feeling that I don't quite function up to par (due to having what I realize now are ADD traits) so things won't get better or ever be okay. But I think I also have a fatalistic sense of the future that goes beyond my own sense of ability or lack thereof. Sometimes this feeling is more or less operant in me but I can't attribute that to anything in particular.
What I find to be a stumbling block is what to do after I've identified this thought pattern. Because you're supposed to replace negative thoughts with more "rational" ones. But I usually don't believe anything more positive, however I word it. So I'm not sure that I can deliberately change thoughts that come from depression. Or if the thoughts cause the depression. When I took 5-HTP I noticed more positive thoughts coming into my mind at times. I almost felt like an alien had invaded my head. lol.
How has CBT worked for you?
poster:mist
thread:538
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20020702/msgs/541.html