Is CBT where you learn to change a thought process?

[phipps]

.

My experience was that it was firstly about learning about why you react/feel the wy you do in a certain sitation then secondly learning how to modify that reaction/feeling. The second step can be done by rationalising, observing, diarising and talking through the reaction/feeling and also by gradual controlled exposure.

I feel stuffed as I don't know why I react and feel the way I do. Thanks for explaining.

The job of your CBT therapist is to help you understand why you react the way you do.

Have you been referred to a CBT therapist or psychologist?

Neither. I have bought the book CBT for Dummies (I think it is called that) but just can't get into it.

I kind of know why I react the way I do. I just want to know why I keep doing it when it only causes me stress.

CBT is really a therapist lead treatment rather than somethng you can read and implement from a book.

I would though strongly suggest you read Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway.

You may also want to look at the author's website.

CBT can be used to treat stress, panic atatcks, phobias as well obsessive compulsive behaviours but may not be suitable for your condition. I suggest you talk to our GP and then she/he can guide you to the right therapy.

Echo what has been said about needing a therapist to talk you through, but there is a good resource called Beating the Blues which your GP can refer you to. There is telephone support by a CBT trained person at several stages in this process, and it can either be sufficient in itself or act as a stepping-stone to further therapy if you need it. There is also www.livinglifetothefull.com which is useful too, and can be used by anyone without referral.

HTH

I bought the feel the fear book years ago. Would it be any good now or has it been updated? I also have a book by Dorothy Rowe called Beyond Fear which a health visitor told me to read. Just lately I find I can only read in the morning as I just don't have the concentration in the evenings.

in the space of 13 minutes I have gone from not knowing why I react the day I do, to knowing why I do. No wonder I am all over the place.

This site is quite good too:

{{http:getselfhelp.co.uk}}

Sorry:

[http://www.getselfhelp.co.uk]]

I rate CBT For Dummies. The thing to do, OP, is print off the table and DO IT! Like all other therapies, CBT is about putting into practice what you've learned to understand.

There's a great online course (free) at www.themindgym.com/.

CBT has limitations. If the issue/s you want to resolve originate from trauma of some sort, you'll need a deeper kind of therapy.

terribly sorry, I gave you the wrong link - here's the one I recommend: moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome

Thank you. I haven't looked at the links yet as I am trying to get lunch on and do 20 other jobs but is the table in the book or on the link?

The table's in the book. The online course is in steps that you follow on screen.

Or you might find a book called "Mind over Mood" a bit more accessible.

(By Padesky and Greenberger)

(ps its full title is "Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel By Changing the Way You Think").

CBT b=is about understanding your own behaviour and reactions it bases on ABC "anticedents" what has run up to said behaviour etc "behaviour" or reaction or actions "consequences" what has happended after or as a direct result of your actions etc.

this gives a bigger picture of triggers reactions and consequetions to help build a picture of certain stresses, behaviour patterns and how these affect you and others around you. It can help identify these reactions and build coping mechanisms. CBT is very broad and complex however and it all depends on what "behaviour Functions" need to be adressed.

if you feel you would benifit from CBT see your gp as there is a national scheeme being introduced in some areas in the U.K where a cbt therapist is availible at most localities. It is belived to be break through in MH without medicating people. Is very usefull in reactive depression.

sorry slight typo in first line

I just don't understand any of your post allhallows. It is me being thick, not you.

I don't want to use CBT for depression help even though that was why I bought the book, as I know I am on tablets for the long term now. It is because I am doing something that I know will hurt me yet can't stop.

I am shopping later so will look for the book, thank you.

sorry phipps, not sure how to take that but will clarify if you need me to. what is it about my posts you dont understand as is it ALL of my posts, that has worried me now.

in my opinion cbt is not something you can just teach or impliment your self. it may be usefull to seek advice from gp.

Please don't worry. I am sure you are explaining it fine, I am just not getting it.

I thought CBT was about learning how to not do things but I think I am wrong.

it is very complex, it can be used to change behaviour but not always. it is more an understanding why you act or behave in that way. It may be that the behaviour does need changing or eliminating.

if the behaviour does need changing undergoing cbt can help find new ways of coping with stress.

i possibly should have explained that all behaviour is thought to have a function or purpose.

For instance. self harm is not desirable behaviour but may have a purpose or function in helping cope or out let emotional pain. This behaviour would possibly need to be eliminated as it is harmfull. exploring the triggers of the behaviour (what has occured before that makes you want to hurt your self) or recognising reoccuring emotions can help you recognise the signs that may lead a person to self harm and then impliment a new coping stratorgy.

or drinking a bottle wine every friday night. will give you a hangover and not good for health and liver but is less likely to be damaging to your every day life and may be viewed as normal coping behaviour to a stressfull week at work, this behaviour may not need to be eliminated.

is that any clearer??

Yes, thank you. What I am doing is hurting me but I have an emotional answer to why I do it and a different answer if I am thinking rationally.

o.k i dont think reading the manuals will help you, i would go along with the rational answer but your emotional answer will possibly shed some light into also so i would not dismiss it. I am happy for you to end me a personal message if you would like to talk further.

it may be that you need to look at what it is that causes you to do what you are doing and the thought proccess that surrounds the actions that are hurting you and eliminate what is the cause, if that is not possible then maybe find other less harmfull ways of coping. I think maybe to understand the thought process is more usefull than changing it. that way you will be more open to exploring less harmfull coping stratorgies.

This can be done in the ABC that i poorly described earlier.

A = anticedent, what has occured directly prior to you acting in a harmfull way. this can include uncomfertable situations interactions, emotions felt etc.

B= Behaviour, in what way did you act as a direct responce to A.

C= consequences, what happened as a direct consequence to B, how you felt, how others reacted. this is not always negative consequences.