[alfonse85]

Does anyone have any great success with a practice or type of therapy that just changed their life? My mind is so down and toxic right now. It is filled with all types of character defects such as anger, anxiety, depression, rage jealousy, lack of acceptance. I just do not know what to do. But I am ready to get better. Thanks everyone

[*freak*]

I don't know if this is going to be helpful, but just in case you find some value in it even though it's not exactly what you're asking...

Therapy didn't work for me. I tried many different therapists, several psychiatrists and quite a few different meds. And I made zero progress. What finally enabled me to emerge from the darkness was meditation, as strange as that sounds. Yoga is also very helpful to quiet the mind because it forces you to focus on the present moment. To manage my emotions and to overcome the debilitating anxiety that's been preventing me from doing what I want/need to do since I was a kid, I found another very weird technique called EFT or tapping. To keep me on track with regards to pursuing my goals, I find self-hypnosis to be very helpful as long as I do it consistently.

All of this I learned and practice for free by the way. I'd be happy to provide the resources that will get you started if you're interested.

I apologize if this is too far from the scope of your question and I hope someone else can post a more insightful reply

[TishaBuv]

I just started doing cognitive behavior therapy. Simply understanding the concept of it has already helped me a lot. Recognizing the negative, inaccurate dialogue I have with myself and how that makes me feel bad.

[Unrigged64072835]

I've done both Cognitive and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Both have helped me in different ways. CBT worked more on my distorted thinking, while DBT helped with my emotional dysregulation.

[Smiles007]

Originally Posted by *freak*

I don't know if this is going to be helpful, but just in case you find some value in it even though it's not exactly what you're asking...

Therapy didn't work for me. I tried many different therapists, several psychiatrists and quite a few different meds. And I made zero progress. What finally enabled me to emerge from the darkness was meditation, as strange as that sounds. Yoga is also very helpful to quiet the mind because it forces you to focus on the present moment. To manage my emotions and to overcome the debilitating anxiety that's been preventing me from doing what I want/need to do since I was a kid, I found another very weird technique called EFT or tapping. To keep me on track with regards to pursuing my goals, I find self-hypnosis to be very helpful as long as I do it consistently.

All of this I learned and practice for free by the way. I'd be happy to provide the resources that will get you started if you're interested.

I apologize if this is too far from the scope of your question and I hope someone else can post a more insightful reply

I would be very interested!

Yes, CBT gave me my life back.

[campervanman]

Can you Guys` and Gals` give me some info on CBT and also what this entails`? (Sounds` interesting)

Thanks` Al.............

Acceptance...to a degree. I stopped fighting feeling what I am feeling.

I am not defeated, but I AM less exhausted.

[fishin fool]

CBT is very helpful and finding the right therapist means a lot.
My therapist is wonderful I hope she never moves away.

Originally Posted by campervanman

Can you Guys` and Gals` give me some info on CBT and also what this entails`?

Certainly...

CBT works on core negative thinking that tends to impede our self worth. Cognative Behavior Therapy encourages the recognition of those thoughts and the manner of how those thoughts rule our thinking patterns and behavior. Once you can recognise those thoughts and the resulting patterns of negative thinking the next step is to combat them head on. What are other possibilities arising out of our responses instead. Finally, one learns some skills to retrain thinking so that more positive outcomes of our thinking patterns occur. A very big part of CBT then is resolving issues with selfworth. So too, CBT can aid with the development of coping skills for such things as Anxiety, OCD, etc.

Others may disagree with me here but I believe that CBT must become a way of life to be effective. It takes work and you can't let that work end just because the therapy has ended. I try to do at least one exercise a week and sometimes do more as needed. I especially find the Decatasrophizing tools helpful.

[campervanman]

justafriend306

`mmmm` Thank-you very much for the info.
`I wish I could take my demons` head on and knock their lights` out!!!!

[stewartmays1]

well i agree that cbt can help even some self help books has helped also i have had thearpy and it was ok but not great by any meens i think keeping active has helped me also

Originally Posted by campervanman

justafriend306

`mmmm` Thank-you very much for the info.
`I wish I could take my demons` head on and knock their lights` out!!!!

I wish to add that - if prepared to do the work - CBT can be self directed. There are many fine work books out there. I really actually liked the "CBT for Dummies" which is comprehensive and takes you through a day-by-day program lasting about 3 months. The one problem with the other workbooks is that I believe some people have the tendancy to read and work ahead. What ever book you use then, it is critical that you take your time and not do so. Actually do the exercises and do so everyday.

[campervanman]

`OH` I don't know about the exercise bit, as it takes` me a while getting out of my pit! (Aches` and pains`)

Thanks` anyway

[RosieDee]

Originally Posted by alfonse85

Does anyone have any great success with a practice or type of therapy that just changed their life? My mind is so down and toxic right now. It is filled with all types of character defects such as anger, anxiety, depression, rage jealousy, lack of acceptance. I just do not know what to do. But I am ready to get better. Thanks everyone

[COLOR="rgb(112, 128, 144)"][/COLOR]

I haven't been active in a couple years. Just am revisiting for the first time in a while. Have you posted since your first post? How are you doing? I also suffer from anxiety and depression.

[kecanoe]

For me, CBT and Brainspotting

[TrailRunner14]

IFS and somatic combined has helped me greatly. IFS has helped me organize my memories and give them a value and appreciate what they have been for me. The somatic part has come on its own. It's just happened on its own and I'm trying to understand it. It has value too and I'm learning just how much.

[kecanoe]

Originally Posted by TrailRunner14

IFS and somatic combined has helped me greatly. IFS has helped me organize my memories and give them a value and appreciate what they have been for me. The somatic part has come on its own. It's just happened on its own and I'm trying to understand it. It has value too and I'm learning just how much.

I also like IFS and somatic.

[TrailRunner14]

Originally Posted by kecanoe

I also like IFS and somatic.

It just makes sense to me.

I really like DBT or dialectical behavioral therapy. It helps me concentrate on the present moment and be able to do one thing at a time. So far I'm not very good at it but it takes practice. The teachers I go to are very good. It doesn't help with everything, or at least not yet, but it is a good tool. It all starts with practice and willingness to try it, even if it sounds a little weird sometimes. The meditation is the hardest part for me.

The most useful thing has been learning about myself. Second best are the strategies I was taught to "reframe thinking patterns" My PDOC gave me a book about it back around 1994. It sounds very similar to the newer DBT and CBT therapies I've read about. It was EXTREMELY helpful and good for all around living. I've taught these techniques to others over the years and it's helped them. I can't imagine what my life would have been without learning these techniques. Learning to look at things from all angles is very helpful

[Reao]

Mindfulness, mindfulness meditation and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy have helped.

[TishaBuv]

Self help, learning as much as I can about mental issues, venting on this forum about my issues and getting validation, coming to terms with myself, confronting the abusers, standing up for myself, finding new healthier friends and activities, understanding there is no magic pill, diet and exercise, humor, strength, faith

[lissy83]

Originally Posted by *freak*

I don't know if this is going to be helpful, but just in case you find some value in it even though it's not exactly what you're asking...

Therapy didn't work for me. I tried many different therapists, several psychiatrists and quite a few different meds. And I made zero progress. What finally enabled me to emerge from the darkness was meditation, as strange as that sounds. Yoga is also very helpful to quiet the mind because it forces you to focus on the present moment. To manage my emotions and to overcome the debilitating anxiety that's been preventing me from doing what I want/need to do since I was a kid, I found another very weird technique called EFT or tapping. To keep me on track with regards to pursuing my goals, I find self-hypnosis to be very helpful as long as I do it consistently.

All of this I learned and practice for free by the way. I'd be happy to provide the resources that will get you started if you're interested.

I apologize if this is too far from the scope of your question and I hope someone else can post a more insightful reply

So glad I came across this post and saw your response. I have found that meditation, yoga and positive affirmations every morning as soon as i wake up and every night before going to bed have truly helped me as well. Whenever I feel my insecurities, and possessiveness take over me, I get super anxious and I Feel this horrible gut wrenching feeling, I take several deep breaths and slowly exhale through the mouth, I do this for 5 minutes and I repeat to myself "I trust more, I fear Less" or "I am at peace".... over and over and over.... It truly helps. Remember that what consumes your thoughts controls your life.

xoxo

[Cyllya]

Other than medication and awareness, one of the main things that helped was sensory exercises (aka stimming, sensory diet, sensory integration activities). It's normal to stimulate your own nerves when you're upset--think of a stressed person rubbing their temples, angry cartoon characters pulling their own hair, etc. Those of us who are stressed more often or have sensory issues just need to do a whole lot more

I think most forms of meditation and relaxation techniques fall into this category, but available activities are practically infinite, so you can do other sensory exercises without limiting yourself to established techniques. I think the key factor is that the stimulation is predictable and you are in control of it. (Stimulation that you aren't in control of can be more upsetting.)

Here are some I use a lot:

• Press my hands together in front of my chest as hard as possible for several seconds.
• Stretching, like you would do before exercising (mostly arm stretches for me).
• Pushing against my car steering wheel so that I'm squished against the back of the seat. (Also, pushing my hands against the ceiling, but that's only when stopped at a red light.)
• Listen to music that I've heard a lot before. (It must be the same recording, for the predictability factor. New music, live music, or covers of previously heard music will not work, even if it's music I like.)
• Draw pictures. (Aimless doodling works too.)
• Humming.
• Hand-flapping, leg-bouncing, rocking back and forth, fidgeting of all kinds.
• Deep breaths, so as to cause sensation in my chest area (and nose/throat).
• Sleep with a heavy blanket.

That's nowhere near a complete list.

Sometimes you have an urge to do a particular sensory activity which may not be a good idea (maybe emotional eating, self-injury, something socially unacceptable in your present situation). I've found that substitute activities pretty much never feel as satisfying as the one you had an urge for, but doing a substitute is definitely better than nothing.