Has anyone had CBT for anxiety and depression?

[1darkangel]

[Anxietyang]

I have. It was part of a medical trial and I have to say it didn't work for me because I found it too structured, a bit like school homework but that's not to say it wouldn't work for you. You can get a CBT for Dummies book and see what you think. You can get it cheap on Amazon. My advice is give it a go, you have nothing to lose. I try anything that comes along to help and there is lots of evidence it does work. My sister had it for OCD cleaning and it worked. x

[1darkangel in reply to Anxietyang]

I think it is helping as my mood has lifted finally and I can now concentrate on my anxiety better. A lot of hard work and being truthful about my personnel thoughts and feelings.

[Holly101]

Yeah, I'm getting it right now, but I've had similar CBT before, I found it doesn't really work either..

I don't want to discourage you, coz it does work for lots of people!!

I just don't have much patience, and it all sounds good in theory, but it's a bit like learning first aid or something

I find, it's all very well when you're practising, but when you're in a REAL situation, things like adrenalin, panic,

etc. make it hard to think clear..

I find the same with the anxiety stuff, if I'm in the middle of a panic attack, I'm not gonna remember what my

counsellor has taught me to do in a situation like that last week..

Or if I'm in the depths of despair and wanting to kill myself, I'm not gonna go and do something 'social' or 'uplifting'

like they tell you too...

Sorry, that all sounds very negative, I didn't mean it to. It does work for lots of people, and it depends on the

counsellor, how good you are at applying it etc.

It's proven to work, and there wouldn't be all those books written about it if it didn't, so good luck with it!

Give it a go, and see if it works for you, I hope it does!!

Love, Holly Xxx

[1darkangel in reply to Holly101]

I will be on my 8th session on Wednesday and so far is helping a great deal but a lot of work. Very painful and upsetting at times but well worth it as my mood has finally lifted and I am beginning to control my anxiety better by understanding it more. Thanks 1darkangel X

[Holly101 in reply to 1darkangel]

You don't know how glad I am to hear that!

Maybe I just had a counsellor I didn't 'click' with, or I wasn't giving it a chance...

I'm with a psychiatrist now, I've only met him for the first time last week, so we've not even started the CBT yet, but reading your post and jillylin's giving me some hope!

Thanks, hopefully I'll get more out of it this time!

Love, Holly Xxx

[1darkangel in reply to Holly101]

You just got to be honest with your thoughts and feelings no matter how distressing so they can help you. I find that writing everything down as the thoughts and feelings no matter how silly helped my therapist understand me better. Hope this helps take care 1 darkangel X

[1darkangel in reply to Holly101]

It is best to write them down as they are happening as when you calm down you forget everything that just happened as our thoughts are so automatic that we don't realise we are having them. X

[Holly101 in reply to 1darkangel]

Thanks darkangel, that's a good tip, I'll definitely do that!

I couldn't see your wee profile pic properly and thought, 'wow,she's pretty!'

and then I realised it was Rhianna lol

Thanks again hun,

Holly Xxx

[1darkangel in reply to Holly101]

Lol yeah I am a Rihanna fan,let me know how you get on and take care, got to go will be back on tomorrow. X

[Holly101 in reply to 1darkangel]

Lol so am I, luv her! Will let you know how I get on, but my next appt. is not till the 6th of December..

After that I'll be seeing him every week, so here's hoping I'll get something out of it this time..

Luv Holly Xx

[1darkangel in reply to Holly101]

You seem to have to wait a while for your next appointment but hope everything goes well, don't forget to write eveything down that you feel or your thoughts so they can help you best. Take care X

[Holly101 in reply to 1darkangel]

I've only seen him once, and it was more an assessment kinda thing, so after the 6th I'll be seeing him every week..

I've took your advice and been writing things down!

Love Holly Xxx

[1darkangel in reply to Holly101]

That's great as it can be extremely difficult to remember our thoughts and feelings when we are in the mist of it. So by writing it down helps him to help you, but the hard work is when you have to deal with those exact feelings and change your thoughts for more balanced and realistic ones. Love 1darkangel XX

[Holly101 in reply to 1darkangel]

Yeah you're right, and it also helps to write it down just to get it out of my head!

Hope you have a good day!

Love, Holly Xxx

[1darkangel in reply to Holly101]

Yes your right, I will try to have a good day.Love 1darkangel X

[1darkangel in reply to Holly101]

Hi Holly just wondering how your doing hope your alright Love 1darkangel X

[Holly101 in reply to 1darkangel]

Hi doll, I'm ok.. Just haven't been on computer much.. They've just started me back on mirtazapine, I've been on it before but then I was on Trazadone for years, glad to be off them, they made me feel kinda groggy in the morning and didn't really do anything else for me..

Hope you're ok too, enjoy your Friday

And thanks for asking how I am!

Love, Holly Xxx

[1darkangel in reply to Holly101]

HI I have been on 40mg Mirtazapine for about 6 months and I have put on over a stone in weight so my doctor has reduced my dose to 30mg and I need to go back in a month and see what my weight is. Maybe he might change my meds. Love 1darkangel X

[Holly101 in reply to 1darkangel]

Hiya, yeh I know it can make you piut on weight but I can do with putting a bit of weight on so that's alright!

Hope you're well,

Love, Holly xxx

[1darkangel in reply to Holly101]

I've been better, I don't know if the shift in my mood is because the doctor reduced my dose from 45mg to 30mg or it is just a blip. I will tell my doctor on the 19 December when I go back. In the meantime I will just concentrate on coping with all the endless house chores, writing all my positive things I do each day. Hope your well . Love 1darkangel XXX

[jillylin]

I am having it now and so far it is working for me. The first few appointments were painful and traumatic but I can see the progress I am making. The lady I am working with is, I must say, very good. Very empathic

Hugs

Jillyxx

[1darkangel in reply to jillylin]

Same here, some sessions are extremely painful and upsetting to talk about but you have to talk in order for the therapist to help you to change the thinking errors we have become to believe about ourselves.

[1darkangel in reply to jillylin]

The therapist I see knows exactly how I think and feel and understands everything where no one else does.

[jillylin in reply to 1darkangel]

Mine said that it takes a few appointments to see what approach works best and if one isn't working, she will try another. She always makes me feel like she really does understand and cares.

Hugs

Jillyxx

[1darkangel in reply to jillylin]

Same, my Therapist Sarah is the only one I can really talk to and on this forum as well which I am just getting used to as I am quite new.

[jillylin in reply to 1darkangel]

That's great when you land with people who really understand isn't it.

[1darkangel in reply to jillylin]

Yes my Therapist has actually saved my life as I was in a very dark place in July this year.Thankfully I got the right help at the right time.

[Clairol]

I've had it a few year ago, I found it worked for me, you just av to make sure you do what they advise you to do.

Cbt is all about you looking to the future and not dwelling on the past. They give you the tools to cope with the depression and anxiety.

[1darkangel in reply to Clairol]

CBT is going quite well a lot of hard work but totally worth it to feel better and not have those thoughts or feelings is so far better.