Posted by pedrito on May 13, 2005, at 7:36:37
In reply to Re: Dryden, Ellis, ACT » badhaircut, posted by alexandra_k on May 12, 2005, at 21:49:06
>> It doesn't follow from ACT's focusing on ACCEPTANCE rather than CHANGE that it 'doesn't care very much if a patient has irrational thoughts'.
- A valid point no doubt but in badhaircut's defence, the language he used did indicate a very rough/terse description of ACT which isn't too wide of the mark.
>> The focus is CBT is changing the thoughts.
The notion is that if you change the thoughts then you will thereby change how you feel (which is the problem).
The trouble is that sometimes people don't seem to be able to change their thoughts.- that'll be me then. And countless others.
>> Hardly suprising since thoughts tend to 'occur' to one rather than being 'chosen' in the first place...
- I'm feeling that for sure.
>> So if they just do continue to occur to you but you want to change how you feel then you could always try to ACCEPT your thoughts. Not accept that your thoughts are true, just accept that you are in fact having the thoughts that you are in fact having. If how you feel is produced by you judging yourself negatively for having the thoughts you do then accepting is removing negative judgement - which is itself a change in thought.
- this is exactly the logic which a previous psych I saw tried to espouse to me. The problem of course is getting to the stage where you don't believe your troubling thoughts! And let's face it, repeatedly having very troubling, obtrusive thoughts and constantly accepting yourself for having them is hardly a good quality of life.
>> Sometimes people are distressed because they judge themselves for being upset. If you accept the fact that you are upset without judging yourself for it then you may continue to be upset - but you won't be SO VERY upset.
- Granted. A 20% quality of life is better than a 10% quality of life. But I'd guess ultimately most people require more, or at least the possibility of more out of life.
Acceptance... Is itself change.
- Agreed. It's just crap to have to accept really unpleasant thoughts and feelings all day! =o]
Pete
poster:pedrito
thread:492810
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/books/20050501/msgs/497217.html