CBT??

se7 · Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 1:45 am Post subject: CBT??

Hey, not really sure if this is the right place for this but never mind!

I went to my docs about my sa about a year ago, and this week I got a letter saying I had an appointment for an initial Assessment for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Just wondered if anyone here had done this before, if I turn up, what can I expect cos I really ain't got a clue!

cheers

_________________
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moodygoo · Newbie User Joined: Sep 03, 2006 Posts: 57

looks like the right place to me Smile

I had CBT counselling a while ago , although for something other than SA.
Basically you assess why you feel anxious and scared (or whatever the negative symptons are) and whether there is really anything to be scared of. Thats probably not a great explanation, why not look it up?
Personally I didn't like it, but a lot of people seem to find it effective so its definately worth a try.
A year though?? What took them so long?

plainsofserenity · Newbie User Joined: Jan 01, 2006 Posts: 48

CBT says that your behaviour, mood, thought, environment and physical responses are all connected. As such if you change one, you are influencing the rest.
eg If your thought is "I am worthless" your mood follows as being depressed, your behaviour reflects this as you become withdrawn, you start physically responding by being anxious or lethargic, tired, and this has an effect on your environment when people start avoiding talking with you.

The theory goes that if you affect any one of those you will affect the rest. If you force yourself into physical activity you will feel less tired and anxious which in turn has an effect on your mood, which has an effect on your thinking, which has an effect on your behaviour...etc.
You get the point.

It's a process of identifying your emotional reactions to stimuli and the thoughts that produce them. By changing your thoughts (cognition), the theory says, so will it change your behaviour - thus Cognitive Behaviral Therapy.
-Within the therapy you keep 'thought records' by recording events that cause emotional reactions and you rate those responses. ("This situation made me feel depressed (80%), lonely (30%) and nervous(50%)) - learning to identify your emotions and their strength is part of the therapy.
-Then you identify your 'automatic thoughts' that leap to your thinking unbeckened within the situation. And again, recognizing and identifying though thought is part of the therapy. These are the thoughts that trigger your emotional response.
-Then you list evidence for and against the negative thinking.
-Then try to develop a more resonable balanced response
and finally, re-evaluate your emotiona response.

In most cases you will find you are less anxious or less depressed.

I found it to be a marvelous help.