CBT
I‘ve been an outpatient for two weeks now, and I have a new therapist. I see her once a week, and for the moment, that’s it. I am going to start two groups in May, one on depression, and one on self esteem.
The treatment program I‘m undergoing is based upon the prinicples of CBT (Cognative Behavioural Therapy). It’s a thought based therapy, which deals with here and now, rather than looking into your past. I‘ve already had six months of therapy exploring my past, so I am in an ideal position to benefit from CBT.
In CBT, you learn to identify your automatic thoughts - the ones which even you don’t realise are there. And once you have identified them, you start looking to challenge and change those thoughts for yourself.
Everything is looking very positive for me at the moment. The Prozac seems to be working, and I am in therapy program that I think I will respond to. But I have a long way to go yet; I‘m still very ill.
I’m not entirely sure what I‘m trying to achieve with this column. I guess I just want to tell people what’s happening to me, if they’re interested, and hopefully educate a few more people about depression. It is an illness, just like any other, but it is terribly mis-understood. A little more understanding, and knowledge in the general public would allow sufferers to get the love, support and care they need, rather than being afraid to admit what they suffer from.
I would not wish depression on anyone. It is the loneliest illness in existance. I am thinking of you all and praying that none of you ever have to suffer this.