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Dummies Guide For Mental Health...

I struggled for years with anxiety and depression, I took numerous medications over those years, had counselling, CBT etc. None of it worked! The medications had absolutely zero effects, I can barely even remember counselling and I was not open to what I was told during CBT. As far as I was concerned my condition was a complicated chemical imbalance and nothing could be done about it other than having an easier life...

I spent a lot time reading, theorising and experimenting with my own treatments to try to overcome my mental health problems and eventually it worked like a lot of things the answer was surprisingly simple and one that I dismissed.

The thing that helped me was learning to stay present in my mind (yes it can be exhausting), catching my negative thoughts, feelings, beliefs and behaviours then changing my thoughts to something more healthy but at the same time believable. The way you see things is at the root of anxiety and depression I believe. Affirmations and telling yourself nice lies do not work if they have no meaning or aren't relevant. You cannot fight negative feelings and beliefs if they are not present as your mind will not register the new information it will fly out of the window as soon as you are in the situation that makes you low so you have to face it when it is there.. difficult, takes practise.
Graylight · 51-55, F
Hmm, couldn't have picked up those tools during CBT, could you have? 😉

That's essentially the way depression and anxiety are treated. Incidentally, a groundbreaking meta-analysis just indicated that depression isn't a result of chemical activity in the brain.

Whatever's working for you, glad you've found a path that takes a little less pain to walk. Good luck.
Misanthropic · 26-30, M
@Graylight Out of all treatments CBT would have been the most useful had I taken it seriously at the time.
Graylight · 51-55, F
@Misanthropic No regrets. We learn the lessons when we're ready to. It's just not nearly always on our time schedule.
MarkPaul · 26-30, M
This is true. I have found I can be my own worst enemy when it comes to how I view myself and my place with others. It takes quite a bit of concentration and effort to achieve an alteration of mindset though. I remember how I used to immediately jump to a conclusion that everyone hated me. And, that single idea would control my behaviour, often to the detriment of any interaction with the people who did not actually feel that way. It's a massive case of self-sabotage.

That thought does still enter my mind, but through awareness I am usually able to catch it before it takes hold and clouds my thinking to the point it drives my outlook. You are right, it takes some practice; I am still not skillful at it.
SW-User
Different things work for different people
MartinTheFirst · 26-30, M
Yeah it's difficult to stay present. I worry too much about my future, I continue to hold those thoughts back to focus on now. To enjoy my time here and now. No matter what horrors lie ahead.
Misanthropic · 26-30, M
@MartinTheFirst I meant present as in "there". You have to be aware of your thoughts to change them.
MartinTheFirst · 26-30, M
@Misanthropic well thats a weird take on it
Misanthropic · 26-30, M
@MartinTheFirst A lot of the time people don't filter or monitor their thoughts so they run on autopilot unable to change.

 
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