[Ghost5]

Why is this seen as such a good cure for depression? I was at a seminar today and the speaker was trying to claim that thinking in different ways about situations cures clinical depression. I understand that this is the CBT model of treatment but I just can't help think it's not that easy and runs much deeper than simply thinking yourself better. It made me quite angry that this man seemed to claim to know it all and have all the answers for something that is a medical illness. :-(

[Skeezyks]

Hello Ghost5: Someplace on the internet I ran across this aphorism: "Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it."

[basicgoodness]

I agree that you can't think your way out of a deep depression. But negative thoughts can turn a bad mood into a depression if you aren't careful.

[Ghost5]

Originally Posted by basicgoodness

I agree that you can't think your way out of a deep depression. But negative thoughts can turn a bad mood into a depression if you aren't careful.

Yes, I agree. I also see a lot of negative patterns of thinking I have everywhere throughout my life. I've had them since such a young age and I really don't know how to pull myself out of them,I could think of heaps of evidence against my negative thoughts but they still feel just as strong, they're so automatic and feel 100% true. I just find CBT and "Thinking Positively" unhelpful although that's perhaps my negative thoughts and thinking saying it's unhelpful!

[basicgoodness]

I am the same way. I've always been a glass half empty person. I am trying to be more aware of what is good in my life, not just what is missing or "wrong." I do have things and people to be grateful for.

[dexter]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

"Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it."

I love this thank you Skeezyks.

For me positive thinking is an important coping skill. It helps me cope. It does not cure my depression it helps me cope/counteract some of the negative effects of depression.

If one has purely situational depression, positive thinking maybe just might be a way out of it. For clinical depression where the brain chemicals are out of whack the positive thinking can only be a way to help get through until if/when a cure is found and applied.

And yes it makes me angry too when people who aren't here think they know what is in here and how to fix it.

[lavendersage]

My Lord - is that true?? Is the entire foundation of CBT therapy built upon "think positively"??

I was considering trying that type of therapy but know little about it. That makes it sound sorta hooey-like.

[elevatedsoul]

i think CBT is more about changing the way you think about the things that you think about... but how would you want to change those things..? into positive things hopefully

this doesn't cure depression i think but it can help you get through hard times...
for me i have to try to remind myself to be kind and gentle...
if i didnt' , well - this post wouldn't exist

[Ghost5]

Originally Posted by lavendersage

My Lord - is that true?? Is the entire foundation of CBT therapy built upon "think positively"??

I was considering trying that type of therapy but know little about it. That makes it sound sorta hooey-like.

I think there's more to CBT than simply thinking positively, it's more about finding negative thinking patterns then thinking more "realistically", for example "I'm a complete failure" becomes "I'm a person trying my best and have good and bad points" and also realising there's no evidence to suggest the "I'm a failure" statement. Personally it doesn't work for me, I'm happy punishing myself and treating myself badly and no amount of thinking more "realistically" helps. As I said for me it's a problem that I know my negative thinking patterns and behaviours but struggle enormously to change them or even want to change them. I did find 15 years ago that when I first learnt CBT techniques it did help but it slowly became a battle in my head as to what we're negative thoughts and what weren't. That in itself is tiring and depressing.

[EnglishDave]

It is one of the few things which makes me angry, too. I could no more ease my Depression in this way than use it to cure my heart disease, liver disease or Diabetes. Frankly, this thinking shows a complete ignorance of the causes and progression of Clinical Depression.

Dave.

[dexter]

I also would never want to give the impression that anything that helps someone might be "hooey" and as others have clarified I do believe that positive thinking can be very powerful in context as a coping tool.

[Marla500]

Originally Posted by Skeezyks

Hello Ghost5: Someplace on the internet I ran across this aphorism: "Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it."

Thank you Skeezyks this is going in my book (of helpful things)

[elevatedsoul]

i have to disclose... i say be positive be positive be positive but my mind is like you fool! hahahaha there is no possitve!!! dammn you!
but then im like, be gentle... be kind... my mind is a mess :/
so dont take me the wrong way... i just try, is all i can do i guess if i didnt try...
and that evil part of me takes over, what would become of me

[-jimi-]

http://forums.psychcentral.com/psych...bout-them.html

This is part of CBT.

Or rather I should say CT, because these days CT works under the name of CBT while the real CBT disappeared because of the therapists' laziness and refusal to leave their office.

Positive thinking in itself is nonsense. It's like saying you can run a marathon, just try! Maybe you CAN run a marathon, but there are MANY different exercises you need to do before. Just attitude wont do it! The same with CBT.

[elevatedsoul]

thanks jimi, thats what i try to mean by happy thoughts and all..
its more of trying to correct the negative for me...