Posted by mist on January 29, 2002, at 16:54:29
In reply to CBT and other experiences, let's talk, posted by sid on January 29, 2002, at 11:10:33
I tried the exercises in David Burns' book Feeling Good but they didn't help me. I found them to be too superficial and artificial for my needs. For me, deeper insight is more helpful (as to the origins of underlying beliefs, etc.) although it's not always easy to acquire and doesn't automatically lead to change. But I think for me it's an important starting point.
I also think if I could tolerate meds better they would eliminate some of the negative thinking automatically. 5-HTP is helping some with that; I need to take it a few more weeks to be sure of its full effects.
> Anyone up to talk about this?
>
> Jane d mentioned that my redirect protests might have made people shy away from continuing the CBT thread, so let's talk here, if anyone is up to it.
>
> I have talked some about my experience with CBT, that it helped me get rid of major depression, along with acupunture. And I use it everyday now without realizing it most of the time at this point.
>
> I am convinced it can be a good complement to meds for many people, although, like meds, it does not work for everybody. Acupuncture works in about the same proportions as meds, but it works for some people for whom meds do nothing. So my contention is that people dealing with depression ought to consider many approaches to heal their illness since if one approach does not help, another might. Also, many approaches might help, and together they might help faster. I did not take meds for my major depresion (I now take them for dysthymia and anxiety), but if I had to do it all again, I would take meds too in order to get all the benefits faster. I took a very long way home, I finally got there, but I got discouraged many times along the way. Also, I started yoga recently and I find that it helps a lot with the anxiety.
>
> That's my story, in a nutshell. So please, if you feel like sharing your stories, do. About CBT and about other things that may help.
>
> The forum is open.
>
> - Sid
poster:mist
thread:17445
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020125/msgs/17491.html