Depression Killers

If you haven’t, this blog will help you to understand how your thinking can affect your mood. The thoughts in your head can affect the way you feel, which can affect your behaviors.

For example, say you are talking with a group of other people. Your mood is good and you have been experiencing a positive day overall. The subject turns to a complaining session regarding work. Others chime in about how awful their job is, how they’re overworked, etc. Soon your mood sours and you’re angry and upset, too. You add your two cents about how horrible your job is. When the conversation is over, you’re starting to dwell on other negative aspects of your life. You return to your work area with a scowl on your face and another co-worker asks you what’s wrong.

The same thing that happened in this situation can happen in your head when you are alone. You may start focusing on your depression and have a thought such as, “I got up late this morning, so now my whole day is ruined.” This thought can be the spark that gets the fire burning. Fuel is added by thinking, “I can’t even get up on time, what use am I to myself or others?” The negative thoughts feed on themselves. You continue to talk negatively to yourself and, ultimately, you feel more depressed.

The thoughts can also be inaccurate. Inaccurate thoughts are also called “cognitive distortions.” These negative and inaccurate thoughts can be so ingrained that they become “core beliefs” that you live by. An example is, “I’ve never been successful at anything, so why even try?”

Over the next couple of weeks, I will go through specific examples of cognitive distortions that can worsen depression. Working with a trained cognitive behavioral therapist is the best way to learn CBT and to apply it effectively to your life. Depression and anxiety can be effectively treated with CBT. Cognitive behavioral therapy alone may not be enough, depending on the severity of your depression. Medication may be recommended along with CBT. Cognitive behavioral therapy is just one type of talk therapy. There are numerous other effective types. Talk with your health care provider to find the best type for you. And if you’ve had any experience with cognitive behavioral therapy you’d like to share, please do.

See AlsoCognitive behavioral therapy

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