Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often mistakenly referred to as Cognitive Behavior Therapy.

There are quite a few self-help therapy systems available today, and in my last post I discussed Neuro-Linguistic Programming, another form of therapy.  I decided to take a look at CBT as it is being used by the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.  In fact, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published a report that CBT should be a preferred treatment for mild to moderate depression.

What is CBT?

This is recognizing how our positive and negative thoughts create our emotional state (moods).  CBT can be used to change the negative aspects of your thoughts (cognitive) and what you do, your actions (behavioral).  Therapy means the treatment of that condition.

How can it help?

When we are feeling low or depressed we may be magnifying the problem.  The negative thoughts alter how we are feeling and therefore, what we do, how we physically react to the situation.  You may be suffering from some of these symptoms – low self-esteem, anger issues, panic attacks, anxiety, stress, depression, bulimia.  CBT will help you to break down the problem you are experiencing into smaller parts.  You will be able to see how they are connected and how they affect you.

Getting help

You can help yourself by buying CBT books at any good book store or search Amazon, which holds a number of informative books.  Reading about, recognizing and taking action has been helpful to many people.

In the UK, the NHS operates two computer programs (see your general practitioner to refer you):

1. Fear fighter, for panic and phobia treatment
2. Beating the blues, for depression and anxiety

These can be accessed at home, without the need of great knowledge or expertise on the use of computers.  You can also register with a very helpful free resource Livinglifetothefull.com.

Although not for everyone, CBT has, over the last few years, been accepted by medical authorities around the world as an extremely effective treatment.

Checks out these links to:     Beating The Blues.   Living Life To The Full