If you notice that you often have negative ruminations about your life, or your mood is seriously affected by the world regularly, you could benefit from developing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques. CBT is a form of cognitive restructuring that supports well-being and better quality of life overall.
Key Takeaways: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy, also called CBT, is a form of talking therapy for well-being
- Most people can benefit from CBT unless they have a severe mental health condition
- CBT can support people with a number of conditions ranging from mild to severe
- CBT uses cognitive restructuring techniques to change negative thinking patterns
- If you are unsure whether CBT is for you, consult with your medical professional
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular form of talking therapy that works with the systems of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to manage mental health conditions and improve the quality of life of individuals regardless of their life situation.
CBT is a talking therapy in the sense that you are assigned a therapist to work with, whether you are in a group or a one-to-one situation. However, CBT is also a practice-based therapy that uses journals and homework exercises to help people observe thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Who Can Benefit From CBT?
Anyone struggling with a mental health condition, whether it is mild or severe, can benefit from CBT treatment. Chances are CBT will form part or all of the treatment offered by your medical professional; the treatment helps someone transform negative thought and behavior patterns.
Everyone can benefit from more awareness of negative thought patterns and behaviors, but people with mental health conditions, such as PTSD, sleep disorders, eating disorders, OCD, substance use disorders, and psychotic conditions, can all benefit from a CBT treatment option.
CBT can Treat These Conditions
CBT can help with a wide range of conditions, including social anxiety. For instance, someone with social anxiety receives a message from a friend asking if they want to come to a party. The socially anxious person starts thinking about what to wear and how they are going to interact.
Eventually, the thought process leads them to action; they reject the invite and spend time on their own, perhaps drinking or using drugs by themselves. Unfortunately, these patterns become habitual modes of being that can seriously affect mental health and quality lf life: but CBT helps.
Anxiety
There are many types of anxiety, including social anxiety, panic disorders, and general anxiety. The symptoms include nervousness and adrenaline, along with quickness of breathing and elevated heart rate. CBT helps people become aware of thinking that affects anxious feelings.
Depression
Depression is a mood disorder that manifests as sadness and loss of interest in things that were once engaging and enjoyable. Those affected by depression might also suffer from anxiety, isolation, and low quality of life. CBT trains people to change their feelings and their thoughts.
Bipolar Disorder
Depression can be challenging to manage, but bipolar disorder is even more severe. Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings that can last for days or weeks. Depending on the individual, CBT can be used in place of medication to manage the intense mood phases.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are very common, and there are many types, such as anorexia and bulimia. Often, a person is dissatisfied with how they look at and use food as a way to change how they feel. Using CBT techniques, a person can learn how to work with the ways they think and feel.
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition in which an individual relives a traumatic experience in the form of flashbacks and nightmares. CBT helps someone with PTSD by training them to confront reminders of past trauma in a controlled and therapeutic way.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that affects a small minority of people; the condition is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, social isolation, and disordered thought and speech patterns. CBT can help an individual to develop better social and problem-solving skills for life.
Insomnia
Insomnia is difficulty going to sleep or staying asleep. Not only is it a frustrating condition, but it contributes to other mental health issues, such as anxiety and panic disorders. CBT treats insomnia by reducing patterns and habits that cause sleep loss and enhance supportive habits.
Addiction
Addiction is the psychological or physiological dependence on a substance or a lifestyle. Addiction is very common and can affect someone’s work life, personal life, and general health. CBT can train someone to change their addictive behavior and replace it with healthy habits.
How Does CBT Work?
CBT works on the premise that the ways we interpret life events and think about them affect the way we feel and the actions we take. Since the mind has a strong negative bias, it can lead many people to feelings of unease and actions that affect their life choices and their quality of life.
CBT uses cognitive restructuring techniques to train the mind away from negative thought patterns in the direction of alternatives or more realistic thinking. A change in thinking then creates a change in feeling and action, but CBT can also change the way someone feels.
Is CBT Right for you?
CBT is a low-impact therapy that is safe for most people to undertake. When you visit a medical professional for mild to moderate mental health issues, chances are they will recommend a CBT course. However, CBT may not be suitable for some severe forms of mental health issues.
Someone with complex mental health needs or learning difficulties may not be suitable for CBT due to its level of understanding and awareness of the personal systems of thinking, feeling, and behaving. If you are unsure about your suitability, it’s best to consult your doctor.
A CBT Option Near You
CBT is a very effective form of psychotherapy suitable for most people. CBT trains individuals to monitor negative thought patterns, transform feelings and thoughts, and change actions to improve quality of life. Find out more about CBT and start your mental health journey at Alvarado Parkway Institute.
