| By :
Stephen Daniels
Whether temporary or long term, depression is a mental condition that can, at its most extreme, be entirely debilitating. It can affect the quality of one's life and disrupt familial and professional relationships as well as one's outlook. Depression is often described as a feeling of sadness. In some cases, a person may be able to pinpoint the exact cause, such as the death of a loved one or the loss of a limb. In others, the cause of the problem is harder to identify. Regardless of the cause of the sadness, there is always hope for those suffering. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a decades-old psychoanalytical method for treating the underlying causes of the condition. It's generally faster than other treatments and is designed to equip the sufferer with the mental tools necessary to bring them out of their funk. While they may vary from person to person, some of the telltale symptoms of depression include: • Fatigue • Insomnia • Loss of appetite • Loss of sex drive • Suicidal thoughts • Feeling of hopelessness • Loss of interest in once-pleasurable activities Experienced therapists versed in cognitive therapy are trained to recognize these and other symptoms. The basic premise of CBT is that thoughts influence moods. By providing the sufferer with a "mental tool kit," they learn how to combat negative thoughts and, by extension, their deep sadness. Therapists encourage "reality thinking" more than "positive thinking." They have found that people are generally happier when they see things realistically. Positive thoughts are certainly good, but not when they're forced. During therapy, negative thought patterns are dissected into different parts: the person's perspective of their problems; what they think about them; their emotions surrounding them; the physical feelings associated with them; and their actions before, during and after the thoughts occur. By separating these aspects, a person is able to see how each fuels the other, resulting in a general feeling of depression that can make life seem so difficult. Coping mechanisms are gradually employed to help the person ward off negativity. The goal is not simply feeling better in the short term, but being able to employ the strategies any time feelings of depression start to set in. Empirical studies have shown that CBT works as well, if not better than antidepressant medications. Too often, drugs cover up feelings rather than teach a person how to deal with those feelings. The end result is that the feelings are not acknowledged, so do not go away. Antidepressants can, in some cases, lead to worse depression rather than cure it. Anytime negative thoughts start to affect one's life, whether in the family home, at work, among friends or in the way one normally sees the world, it may be time to seek help. Treatments require 16 sessions on average, but that will depend on the severity of the case. Homework is an important aspect of the therapy. People are instructed to put their mental tools to work on their own between sessions. Small changes in thoughts and behaviors eventually lead to visible effects, namely, an improved mood and better overall outlook.
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