Posted by janey on October 30, 1998, at 19:36:12
In reply to CBT, posted by Leo on October 23, 1998, at 10:36:14
Leo,
I participated in a day treatment program this summer based on cognitive behavior therapy. Two books were used in this treatment program, The Feeling Good
Handbook, by Dr. David N. Burns, and another entitled, Your Perfect Right.People were in the program from anywhere from 10 patient days to 17-20 patient days on average. We participated in 4-5 "groups" a day; cognitive group with a psychiatrist or psychologist; goal group at the end the day with our treatment nurse; and other groups including assertive, anger management, occupational therapy, art therapy, and stress groups.
When I first began the program I didn't want anything to do with group therapy, and I didn't see how I could "get better" in such a short time, when it was an effort to get out of bed in the morning, much less get dressed and let my father drive me to the hospital. However, with the alternative doing the inpatient thing, ANYTHING was better than the in-patient thing in my opinion. After three or four days, I became comfortable with the atmosphere and began soaking in all I could. Learning to let go of stuff, learning to set REASONABLE goals, learning how to relax, learning how to say No, learning to listen to my soul and my being.
My treatment team was wonderful, except for the psychiatrist assigned to me (I think he was a just a figurehead stamping/signing the treatment plan who really didn't give a rat's a** who I was or whether I got better or not -- his problem, not mine.) They were happy with my success and said they could see the change in me, that I really took the program seriously and took as much as I could from it.
It has been four months since I left the program and I am doing very very well. I continue to see my psychiatrist (not the doofus at the hospital), who helps me reinforce the cognitive lessons I learned and helps keep me focused. I see her for a half-hour every 2-3 weeks at my discretion. I have been in and out of talk therapy for about five years, and this day treatment was the best thing that ever happened FOR me. I didn't trust it at first, but I embraced it and it has become a part of my life. Sometimes I still need to be reminded of the lessons I learned and continue to learn, but I am not a victim anymore. I am not "cured", but I have learned how to think about things differently which, in turn, changes how I act, which has to have an effect on my energy, outlook, and even brain chemicals to some degree.
janey
poster:janey
thread:943
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19981001/msgs/999.html