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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by paulb on September 26, 2004, at 15:09:42
Hi..
wow its been a long time since Ive been here. I wanted to write a short note on therapy as I have, in the last two months undergone seven cognitive/behavioural therapy sessions. i have had social phobia and depression for about ten years and only now has the therapy route panned out, having finally realised medication was no longer helpful. i suppose the main idea with CBT is changing cognitive distortions and also changing behaviour which is a pretty good rationale for progress. i sometimes feel that the therapy is having quite a profound effect. i feel that as I moved from a teenager to an adult with social anxiety the social anxiety grew with me and has become part of my character and in a sense now I feel comfortable with it to some degree even though i havent for two years been able to get on a bus or use the telephone and have relied on support services for considerable help. i would like the therapy perhaps to help me manage the social phobia rather than cure, which, at best may be the only reasonable hope but like i said it seems to have a big effect in how i think and feel. i would be interested in others peoples experiences with CBT regarding social phobia and/or depression.
paulb
Posted by Dinah on September 26, 2004, at 18:06:39
In reply to CBT discuss, posted by paulb on September 26, 2004, at 15:09:42
I had great results with it for obsessive compulsive disorder. In fact for anxiety in general. I can't say I'm cured, my OCD still flares up from time to time. But I can say that I can manage the flareups pretty well. It seems like a nuisance now rather than a catastrophe.
My results with depression were less impressive.
I'm glad it's working out well for you! And the best thing is that the results are very long lasting.
Posted by DJB on September 27, 2004, at 14:37:05
In reply to Re: CBT discuss » paulb, posted by Dinah on September 26, 2004, at 18:06:39
I am working on understanding how my thinking (and judgments about things) intensifies my feelings. It has helped me stop feeling quite so out of control or needing to control so much (as the case may be).
Posted by bell_75 on September 28, 2004, at 7:01:31
In reply to CBT discuss, posted by paulb on September 26, 2004, at 15:09:42
Hi
Thanks for starting this thread because I know its not easy to take steps like that or to talk out about difficulties with depression and social anxiety.
I have and still do suffer from depression and social phobia and like my therapist has explained...they're like best friends. They go hand in hand.
I have been in therapy for a year and a half and not all of it but most was CBT. And I found it to be great and very helpful.
I'm not sure if you're familiar with it..but I found the ABCD process of challenging your thoughts to be really helpful anytime anyplace when you're feeling really depressed.
Its quite simple but for me its been effective. I was taught the written version but i adapted it to be able to do in my head. Long story short...you identify exactly what event to the last detail that has upset you/made you depressed or what was happening when you noticed you were depressed. Then you write the feelings associated with that event, then the thoughts, then a challenge to one or two of those thoughts.
I know thats a rather crude way of explaining a professional therapuetic technique but I just wanted to say, that one has really helped me.
With social anxiety, i learned to challenge and change the thoughts i had that made me anxious and I still suffer from social anxiety but it helps to talk about it and have someone encourage you to break through the pain of social phobia.
Id love to help you out with anything you wanna know about CBT. I dont want to sound preachy or anything but I just know the struggle of depression and social phobia and if I can help anyone else out with their struggle I'd love to.This place is a good place to come for help.
As for CBT...I advise that you stick with it.
Take care hun.
Keep us posted!
Posted by caraher on September 29, 2004, at 11:33:42
In reply to Re: CBT discuss » paulb, posted by bell_75 on September 28, 2004, at 7:01:31
I've also done CBT for social anxiety and depression and it's helped a lot, especially with the former. And even when it doesn't "work" in the sense of steering emotions or behavior in a healthier direction I've found it comforting at least to be able to identify cognitive distortions for what they are. I think something like, "OK, so I'm still not able to do X but I see what the problem is and some day it won't stop me."
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