The Struggle Of Loving Someone With Depression

There are moments when you can sense as though your significant other has been taken away by despair or that everything you say or do is inappropriate. Even in the best of circumstances, relationships can be difficult, and when one of you suffers from a mental health condition, some problems in the relationship become more complex. Discovering new ways to assist and interact with each other won’t be simple. When you love someone who is depressed, you must adjust to their demands while ensuring that your own are maintained.

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The Struggle In The Relationship

Since depression is a significant psychological issue, most individuals are generally aware of the various ways that it presents itself. But each person’s experience with depression is unique. Numerous fundamental symptoms are similar, including a lack of interest in typical activities, adjustments to food or sleeping schedules, and sensations of worthlessness or guilt. However, your partner can exhibit less well-known signs like rage or anxiousness. Additionally, they may exhibit high levels of functionality on certain days and nonfunctional depression states on others.

Your partner’s symptoms of depressive disorder may play a significant role in the dynamics of your relationship. You may see melancholy as just one aspect of their multifaceted personality and emphasize other qualities, like their artistic ability, sense of humor, cognitive ability, or honesty. That’s fantastic because it indicates that you can view them as a complete individual rather than just based on their mental state.

However, there may be particular difficulties in your relationship that you would not encounter in other partnerships. It’s difficult to endure watching your partner suffer under the pressure of their anguish, so it makes sense that you would want to assist them in getting well. You’ve likely heard a lot of myths about depression. How you present yourself to your lover can change significantly if you can tell myth from fact.

Before you can provide help, you must acknowledge one important fact: Attempting to “do something to make them better” or erase their despair will only exhaust you both. Depression is sometimes compared to thick fog or an empty sky. Some people compare it to drowning. Many are so overcome with boredom, indifference, and pessimism that they find it difficult to remember earlier happier times.

The Struggle Of Loving Someone With Depression

Blaming Yourself For Everything That Is Happening

Often, when you see your partner having a mental and emotional breakdown, you can’t help but wonder how things turned out that way. You question your ability to care for your significant other in these times. It makes you feel like whatever your partner is going through is because of your lack of attention, encouragement, and support. You start to blame yourself every time your significant other falls into depressive episodes. You form this mentality that the reason your partner is struggling is because you can’t find the cure or can’t give whatever it is that your significant other requires.

Focusing On Fixing, Rather Than Understanding

Helping your significant other handle the mental condition is a priority that you can work on. However, the struggle is when you focus more on fixing the issue and the relationship instead of understanding the psychological demands. Sometimes, because your partner always feels out of the mood, you tend to do whatever brings back that stable connection without thinking about why it happens or the sudden change of emotions. You will become more inclined to overcome the current situation and not follow through with what could prevent it.

Being Extra Careful In Choosing The Right Words

When your significant partner is dealing with depression, you know some words aren’t right to spit out. It can make your partner react to it in a very sensitive way. There are tendencies that you get misinterpreted and misunderstood. Your partner with depression might not accept your criticism openly, which would result in shutting down. Dealing with a depressed partner often makes you think twice about how you should express your thoughts and ideas, along with the fear of not wanting to hurt your partner’s feelings with your truth.

Thinking You Are Not Enough

A depressed individual often feels empty and uninterested in anything. It’s the depression that makes them unable to see the importance of other people around them. Thus, dealing with them is a struggle because their mood and emotional reactions can often make you feel like you are not doing enough to make them feel better. It makes you believe you are not enough for them because even if you tried so hard to help them lift their moods, you are sometimes rejected. You question your worth to your significant other because you do not feel worthy of their love.

Struggling To Maintain A Balance

Learning to deal with someone with a mental health condition like depression is hard. That is because you need to continuously exert an effort to work on and meet your partner’s needs, even if it is already compromising yours. The struggle becomes so intense when you try to keep this setup for a long time that you neglect on own mental and emotional needs. You will become more focused on proving the best for your partner while slowly losing yourself. You will be put in a position where you no longer have to choose and acknowledge your needs because you have no option.

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Possibly Developing A Mental Condition

Trying to help your significant other in dealing with a mental health condition is a battle that the two of you need to win, especially if it is affecting your commitment and social relationship with others. With all the difficulties you have to manage, sometimes you begin to develop a mental health condition such as stress and anxiety. This mental illness can be from your inability to focus on yourself due to your constant desire to assist your partner’s mental health. The possibility of developing another psychological issue is high, especially when you are put in a pressured situation.

Ways To Handle Depression In The Relationship

Finding healthy coping mechanisms is crucial when depression starts to interfere with your daily life and negatively impacts your relationship.

Educate Yourself About Depression

Being a supporting partner requires having a thorough understanding of the intricacies of depression. If you’re in a relationship with an individual who suffers from depression, educate yourself on the condition by studying reputable content on the internet and speaking with people who have experienced similar issues. This will assist you in comprehending your significant other’s experiences more deeply. Recall that sadness is not the same as grief or loss. It’s common to feel depressed when faced with challenging circumstances like losing a job, a relationship ending, or a loved one passing away, but these emotions usually pass with time. Therefore, avoid assuming that your partner’s depression is the result of something. Your significant other will probably tell you the cause of the mental health issue at some time in the relationship. As a result, respect their boundaries while encouraging children to express their feelings.

Stay Flexible

Being in a relationship with someone who is depressed requires you to be adaptable because depression is a complicated illness. Someone you love may exhibit unpredictable mood swings. This may hamper their capacity to engage in activities. If you and your significant other had planned a Friday night out with friends, for instance, don’t be too upset if Friday arrives and they don’t feel like going out. Accept a shift of plans with grace. Offer to do something that your spouse is comfortable with instead, like watching a movie together, cooking at home, reading a book, etc. When it comes to depression, a common error individuals make is placing the blame on their partner. Remember that they aren’t calling off events to hurt your feelings. Their condition is psychological, and it interferes with their ability to think and act normally.

Accept Their Feelings

Giving someone depressed permission to feel what they are feeling is a sign of love. Because they are unwilling to be a burden, individuals who are depressed often suppress their feelings. This is particularly valid if their significant other has made an extra conscious effort to be understanding. Still, it’s critical to give those who are depressed space to recognize and communicate their emotions. Occasionally, people might not even know why they are depressed or gloomy. It is more complicated than just being depressed for a reason. That’s not all that it is. Telling someone you’re dating who suffers from depression that it’s not their fault and encouraging them to express their thoughts will go a long way.

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Participate in Your Partner’s Healing

Depression is curable. Treatment options include counseling, prescription drugs, and changes to their lifestyles. Expert therapists have undergone training to assist clients in controlling their manifestations of depression. Encourage the person you are dating who is depressed to receive treatment. Keep in mind that the most beneficial thing you can do when handling love with depressive disorders is to encourage your significant other within reason to acknowledge the effort they’re putting into their recovery.

Professional psychologists treat depressive disorders in a thorough and all-encompassing manner. In addition to assessing the potential biological causes of depression, they consider the person’s differences in social and lifestyle factors. Avoid waiting until your relationship has irreversibly deteriorated if you are dating someone who is depressed. Take the initial step toward recovery by speaking with a mental health professional.

 

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Therapy For Teens – How To Help Them When They’re Depressed

When children are young, parents typically come to their aid anytime they are in need. It can be challenging to shift into more of a helping position as your children get older and their problems become increasingly complicated. This is particularly true for teenagers experiencing depression. Help is needed for them to recover. But they don’t appear to know how to reach out.

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Teens are more frequently affected by depression than the majority of people, and the adolescent years may be incredibly difficult. Indeed, it is projected that around one in five teenagers from diverse backgrounds would experience sadness at some point throughout their adolescent years. Even though depression is a very treatable condition, most sad teenagers never get assistance.

Suppose you live with a young adult or teenager. In that case, you are undoubtedly used to their lack of interest in conversations, the likelihood of sleeping all day until you wake them up, and their preference for technology over in-person interactions with family members. You must realize that these are more than just a habit. It’s a severe health issue that affects a teen’s whole life. Thankfully, parents can assist, and it is treatable. Your love, support, and advice can make a big difference in your teen’s ability to overcome depression and turn their life around.

Distinguishing between depression and typical teenage developmental issues might be challenging at times. However, here’s how to identify your teen’s depressive symptoms and provide the best care.

Negative Life Outlook. Adolescents who are depressed could be harsh with others or with themselves. They may concentrate on mistakes and losses. They could find it difficult to recognize the positive aspects of situations or the good qualities of themselves. They are insecure and frequently disregard their emotional needs, a cry for help.

Persistent Negative Mood. Depression is frequently indicated by frequent crying brought on by an intense feeling of helplessness. Teens who are depressed, nevertheless, don’t always look depressed. Rather, the main symptoms can be anxiety, rage, and irritation. Since nothing seemed entertaining or fun anymore, they could not seem to care.

Unexplained Aches And Pains. Teens who are depressed usually whine and complain about bodily illnesses like suffering from headaches or stomach pain. These aches and pains could be signs of depression if a complete physical examination reveals no medical explanation.

 

Change In Sleep And Diet. Teens who are depressed may stay in bed later than normal or, on the other hand, suffer from insomnia. Additionally, you could observe that your adolescent consumes more or less food than usual. Teenagers frequently experience these symptoms as normal, especially as they approach puberty. Nonetheless, it would be best if you remained alert for these indicators.

Doing Poorly At School. Schoolwork can appear more difficult when an adolescent is depressed. They might put in less effort, finish their assignments, or prepare less for exams. They can see declining grades and a constant urge to miss or cut classes. Most teenagers frequently view school as an unsafe place and perceive it as the cause of their social isolation.

Pulling Away From Friends And Family. Teens could appear aloof or spend lengthy periods alone. You may observe that your teen is less interested in their preferred pastimes outside of school. For instance, they might give up hobbies or sports teams or distance themselves from close friends and family members.

 

 

Smartphone Addiction. Although teens can turn to the Internet and smartphones to escape their issues, overuse of these devices simply serves to deepen their loneliness and worsen their depression. Sometimes, in an attempt to conceal the reality from themselves, they develop a new identity. They emphasize made-up accomplishments online because they find solace and approval on social media.

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Risky Or Harmful Behaviors. Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, failure, and unattractive can be exacerbated and brought on by depression. These, though, are sometimes controllable. It’s important to be aware of the dangerous and destructive behaviors that some teenagers engage in, such as misbehaving, getting into trouble, or fighting more with others. Dangerous activities, including abusing drugs or alcohol, driving carelessly, having unsafe sexual relations, or self-harming, are some examples of what they might exhibit.

Thoughts Or Talk Of Suicide. Teens who are depressed may consider suicide. Ask your teen about suicidal thoughts lovingly and calmly if you suspect they are considering it. It can prevent teenagers from executing those thoughts if they know they have somebody to turn to. It also alerts you if your adolescent requires emergency assistance.

Causes Of Teen Depression

Teens can experience depression for a variety of reasons. There isn’t a single cause for serious depression, and each person will have distinct signs and symptoms.

Some teenagers may inherit genes that make them more susceptible to depression. Genes influence brain regions, influencing energy and mood. Adolescents experiencing depression might have relatives who have also experienced depression.

Mood can be impacted by changes in hormones that occur during puberty. Hormone changes brought on by seasonal variations in daylight can affect some teenagers particularly. They could experience depression in the fall or winter, when there are fewer daylight hours, every year. This is also called seasonal depression.

Personal and life events could be relevant to their mental health struggle as well. Many teenagers have experienced loss, serious health issues, familial adversity, or conflict. Some have experienced trauma or violence in their lives. Depression is not necessarily the result of these things. However, they can, even in cases where teenagers have a lot of self-reliance and receive supportive guidance.

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How To Help

Ask (And Keep Asking)

Choose a peaceful, private moment to start the conversation with your teenager. Speaking with just one parent at a time could be beneficial because dealing with two parents at once could overwhelm the kid or stimulate a hostile environment. However, enabling them to speak first will assist you in seeing things more clearly. Continue asking if they open up at a later time. Remind them that depression is a normal psychological illness and not something they can manage on their own, nor is it a choice or an isolated incident if they appear unwilling to discuss it.

Listen Attentively

People who are depressed can feel as though they are weighing down their loved ones. This implies that they may view your legitimate need for privacy as a rejection and be reluctant to speak with you in the future. Make sure they feel heard by using active listening when they open up. Finish what you’re working on as soon as possible and try to appreciate the moment. Even if you might not fully comprehend their suffering, try not to downplay or disregard it. Refrain from filling in the gaps, completing their statements, or interjecting. Allow them to speak when ready, even if they need time to express themselves.

Respect Their Boundaries

You should expect your teen to tell you to stop bothering them. It is OK since they attempt to manage their psychological and emotional problems. You must accept your teen’s natural desire for independence. Your teenagers’ desire for distance indicates that they are attempting self-improvement and would like confidence in them to continue on their journey. Don’t push them to submit to your authority if they won’t let you in; that will make them feel even more distant.

Give Them A Break

Teens suffering from depression may find it difficult to maintain their normal level of energy and enthusiasm. Give them a break if you’re the parent who always gives them instructions and frequently makes decisions for them. Allow the younger adults to live their lives without always interfering with them by telling them what’s right and wrong. Even though they can be difficult, you shouldn’t constantly point out their shortcomings and use your aligned instructions to forcefully correct them. That is not how it works.

Accentuate The Positive

Be sure to acknowledge your adolescent’s good actions as well. Whether they’re washing the dishes, attending school regularly, helping with the house chores, working a part-time job, or anything else worthwhile, it’s critical to acknowledge their accomplishments rather than critiquing their insufficient efforts. Everyone enjoys receiving praise and acknowledgment for performing well, especially when it is expected of them. Therefore, if you observe them taking care of themselves, let them know that you think well of them and are doing a great job.

Be Supportive

Developing a closer bond with your teenage child is considered one of the most crucial things you can accomplish for them. Put yourself in their position to try and develop understanding and empathy. You may be annoyed with them because they don’t seem to do much to better themselves and frequently appear depressed and agitated. However, it makes sense that people would shun activities they used to love and withdraw to their room if they were not experiencing much happiness in their lives or if they had experienced something incredibly disappointing.

Encourage Professional Support

Although your empathy and direction can significantly impact your child, seeking expert assistance is usually the most effective means of alleviating symptoms. When you ask any teenagers, some will want to attend treatment, and some won’t. Consult your teen whenever you choose a professional or pursue treatment choices. Don’t make snap decisions or disregard your teen’s preferences if you want them to be enthusiastic about and involved in their treatment. Teens must establish a positive therapeutic environment, so if your child is uncomfortable or is not “connecting” with the counselor or a psychologist, look for someone else.

 

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Therapist Explains What’s Behind “I’m Okay”

 

Mental health problems should not put you in a state where you only proceed in life because you think you have to. Life is a gift, and your condition shouldn’t have to be the cause of your unhappiness, anxiety, and other emotional problems. Unfortunately, no matter what other people say and despite how much they positively try to create an impact, there is still a part of you that wants to keep everything inside the box. Thus, there’s the “I’m okay” phrase that you know you’re used to. But what exactly is behind that?

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Struggle That Silently Kills Confidence, Self-Worth, And Emotional Resilience

There is entirely nothing wrong with telling everyone that you are okay. Of course, when you are emotionally and mentally healthy, you are confidently okay inside and out. And despite dealing with uncertainties in life, you know you can handle it better because you understand balance and overall stability. However, the moment you tell yourself that you’re okay when you know you are not creating a different level of approach in handling challenges. It connotes a negative progression of lies, denial, and untruthfulness towards yourself.

Telling yourself “I’m okay” but still feeling empty and lonely inside destroys your ability to see your worth. It kills your confidence and makes you lose track of emotional resilience. Telling yourself, you’re okay even if you know you are hurting inside hinders you from understanding yourself better. It blocks you from overall development and makes you stop finding yourself’s true purpose. It traps you in a space where you won’t be able to help yourself recovery from whatever it is that you’re emotionally and mentally going through.

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Fear, Worry, And Avoidance Of Becoming Someone Else’s Burden 

Experts of therapy for teens agree that it’s entirely understandable that you think about your struggles as yours alone. As much as possible, you want to deal with your condition to prove that you are strong enough to deal with complicated things independently. Apparently, when you say “I’m okay” because you intend not to let anyone get involved with what you are dealing with, soon enough, you’ll get drown in self-pity. The more you think about the possibility of you burdening people will create an intense feeling of judgment towards those who truly want to help.

Your fear and worries of harming others are unreasonable. Just because you do not want them to carry the burden of your mental and emotional problem, it does not mean that you should lie about what you truly feel. Of course, you will try your best to get better, and you’ll push harder to suck it all up so that you won’t feel the need to ask others for help. However, consequences can arise. Not only do you deprive yourself of emotional intelligence, but you also take away other people’s opportunities to learn about your condition.

Mental And Emotional Suffocation That Grow Overtime

“I’m okay” goes with the truth of “not being entirely okay.” For some reason, you get accustomed to saying those words to convince yourself that you got no real problems to deal with. But in reality, the waves of loneliness are pulling you back to the isolated surface where there’s no hope and full of sadness. You may lie about the whole thing, but soon enough, you will find yourself complaining and hating life and everything in between. Constantly telling yourself that you’re okay even if you’re not can be pitiful. And instead of the action helping you make your way through your dilemma, you only wallow away feeling sorry for yourself.

Self-talking and saying “I’m okay” despite not getting a hold of the mental and emotional weight is comparable to beating yourself up while currently weak and bending on the floor. It’s not healthy, not acceptable, and not entirely going to create a difference. It would only make you fall into the idea that your emotions are not valid.

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Takeaway

Admit that there are things you can’t do, and you have to let go of the idea that you can be better alone because you can never fight those mental and emotional battles on your own. Accept that you are not that strong enough to handle everything. Be true to yourself. You know that the constant pep talks with your inner self will not work because you genuinely understand your need for help. Stop pretending that you are okay because you know you’re not. It’s okay not to be okay. The world is never flawless, so you don’t have to deal with uncertainties. It is about time that you stop saying “I’m okay” and consider changing it to “I need help.”

Given that these conditions are currently haunting you, you have to realize that your mental and emotional weakness does not define who you are. Think about it. Deeply evaluate your thoughts and emotions. After that, ask yourself if you are genuinely okay.

 

Reasons Why Therapist Encourages People To Share Mental Health Struggles

Talking about mental health struggles is not something that every individual can openly do. Some are way too drawn to their mental and emotional capabilities that they do not want others to interfere with self-healing. On the other hand, others are too weak even to share small details of their mental health problems. We know that both these situations must be addressed because they can cause a lot of damage over time. People should learn the importance of reaching out for support for any mental and emotional health challenges. But why should they work on better expressing their thoughts and feelings? Here are some reasons why therapists encourage people to share what they are going through emotionally and mentally.

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Reaching Out For Support

Of course, the main reason people should talk about mental health struggles is to gather support. Mentally and emotionally unstable individuals often find themselves unable to cope with their health issues’ symptoms and negative effects. They are often afraid of confiding to the wrong people that they hide their true feelings to themselves. They ignore their need for encouragement and motivation; thus, they do not immediately get better.

But we can’t blame these people for not sharing what they are going through. Sometimes, they are not that confident and are too sensitive to talk about their mental and emotional struggles. So instead of forcing them to reach out, it would be best to give them space and time to open up. They must maintain engaging with positive individuals to create more intimacy and connectedness that can help them build skills for coping and resilience.

Increasing Connectedness And Purpose

Another reason why people should share their mental and emotional health experiences is for connectedness. Sometimes, people tell others what they are going through, not because they want them to do something or help them carry on. Instead, these mentally and emotionally unstable individuals only want others to listen to their stories. They do not require others to participate in the healing process because being there and listening to them is already enough.

Sharing relates to a better connection with others. It builds a sense of common purpose, making people appreciate and work together with similar mental health challenges. It helps individuals to get to know their abilities in handling difficult situations as well. Sharing also supports making friends, finding better resources, and lightening loads of human responsibilities.

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Raising Awareness And Breaking The Stigma

Sharing is entirely related to raising awareness. Since there are so many negative things about mental and emotional health that people do not know of, sharing serves as everyone’s edge to better understanding. With sharing, mentally and emotionally unstable individuals provide information that others can use as a guideline to check with their personal experiences. Sharing can be very beneficial in promoting an open discussion about specific psychological issues related to self-harm, suicide, and trauma.

Mental and emotional health can be debilitating, and for some individuals, it can be a life-changing struggle. And since not everyone is well-known for the signs and symptoms of these conditions, there is the possibility that isolation, judgment, and unreasonable behavior become acceptable. Thus, sharing is important as it introduces people to new treatments and solutions to stigmatized conditions.

Moving Forward To Self-Acceptance

A shared mental health struggle defines people’s ability to see a bigger picture. It supports a change in perspective gathered from different opinions and views. Though sometimes, this can be unnecessary, there is still a great benefit to sharing that makes individuals move closer to overall healing. Sharing opens up opportunities to understand things that are often ignored. It makes people dive in more to self-reflection and better mood regulation.

Sharing life struggles can be tough due to the possible buildup of depressive symptoms. The imbalance can cause desires to be approved by others, increases fear of failure, and creates self-criticism. But on a brighter note, it also guarantees an increase in positive emotions. It supports autonomy, self-worth, confidence, and a sense of freedom.

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Helping People Get Better

The best part of sharing mental health struggles is the overflowing support from others who truly care and understand. The positive energy that people provide these unstable individuals increases their well-being and self-importance. It motivates them to feel and get better because they know that others are working hard to do everything for their overall recovery. The whole purpose of sharing is to empower those unstable individuals to help them help themselves.

People benefit from sharing their stories as it nurtures them with positivity. It makes them reflect on their journey and think about how they should overcome life’s stressful challenges. Of course, the whole process can be extremely exhausting. But when mentally and emotionally unstable people know that they can always find someone they feel comfortable to flex their vulnerabilities with, it almost leaves them not feeling drained.

 

 

You’re Self-Harming When You’re Procrastinating According To Counselors

I have been friends with the same group of people for almost half of my life. I met them in middle school, and we decided to go to the same high school. But even if we did not see much of each other during our college years, we made sure to remain in touch by phone and get together on any holiday.

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One thing you should know about my friends is that they love going on trips. For example, three months before the summer break, my phone would start buzzing because one of them tried to make us choose whether to go up in the mountains, swim in the lake, or drive across the country with no specific destination in mind. Even when we all had our careers, they continue to do the same thing, so it did not feel like I left my childhood for good.

I want to say that my friends keep doing it as a force of habit. There are nine of us, and our schedules need to be in sync. Most of us are willing to drop whatever we are doing to go on whatever trip they have in motion. I personally only need to give my counseling partner a week’s notice before I go somewhere. However, my friends feel the need to schedule our trips ahead because we have one gal pal who tends to back out of social gatherings at the last minute: Jenna, the only married woman in the group.

I mean the literal “last minute” here, guys. Just a few days ago, for instance, we were supposed to meet Jenna at a coffee shop. We had been so busy in the last few months, so we had not been able to catch up until now. As always, this meeting was set a couple of weeks before the actual day to ensure that she could make time for it. We also reminded her about it almost every day so that she would not forget it. However, my friends and I waited at the coffee shop for two hours, waiting for Jenna on the D-day. Then, when we finally got ahold of her, she was like, “Oh, I’m sorry. There was a sudden visitor at the house. Let’s meet next time.”

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Of course, our eyes rolled after hearing that, but we just went on with our day and went to a KTV bar afterward. But then, when one of my friends was about to post our pictures on Instagram, she saw an update from Jenna’s account. It was a picture of her on a beach with the caption “perfect getaway.”

Everyone went quiet for two minutes until someone said, “So, are we nothing to Jenna now? Couldn’t she have invited us to go with her?”

 Despite my annoyance, I decided to look at Jenna’s behavior from a counselor’s standpoint. “It can be neglect, but I feel like it leans toward more procrastination. Jenna has been doing this ever since she got married and stopped working. She may have thought that she would see us another time anyway since we were a constant in her life,” I tried to explain.

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“That does not sound good,” another friend quipped.

“No, it doesn’t. However, who do you think procrastination hurts more, her or us?” I asked.

“Us!”

“Nah. Jenna is only hurting herself by continuing to put things off. She knows her promise to meet us today; she also knows that bailing out on us would be upsetting. Yet, she still did it and even lied about it,” I uttered.

“Why do you think our friend keeps doing that?” one friend asked.

“Hmm, procrastinating typically means that someone is harboring negative emotions mostly towards themselves. They cannot deal with those emotions, so procrastinators end up setting aside activities that may push them to confront how they feel.”

“So, in Jenna’s case, does she probably feel bad about being the only person without a career among us?”

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I thought about it carefully. “It’s possible, but then again, it’s challenging to know without giving Jenna a psychological assessment. The only thing we’re all sure of is that she is always procrastinating, and that’s self-harming.”

What Happened Next?

My friends did not let that conversation go. They booked a group counseling session with me the next day and dragged Jenna to my office. Then, when our friends started airing out their grievances, I saw how Jenna’s expression changed from confusion to denial to anger to defeat in less than an hour. She knows she’s a procrastinator, but she never admitted it – not even to herself – until now.

I could understand how Jenna must have felt at that moment. It could be overwhelming to know that your worst fears about yourself were true. For your closest friends to reflect on that, it might be worse. But the good thing was that our friends decided to accompany Jenna to all her counseling sessions, which was all right with her.

Though there’s honestly no cure for procrastination, it’s ideal to immediately know about it and curb its causes.

Counselor’s Tip Of The Day: Avoid Watching News Too Much

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If you ever go to my new house, the first thing you might notice was that I did not have a TV on-site. The closest thing to it was my computer monitor in the office, but that was it. I was not hiding it in my bedroom; it was not in the kitchen, bathroom, or any part of the house.

People would realize that their initial response was, “Oh, that’s very unfortunate. Don’t worry; next time we come here, I will surely bring one as a gift.” Even my parents, who were TV lovers, were baffled by it. If I did not learn about it immediately, they would have ordered a 60-inch flat-screen online when they visited me.

The thing was, I did not get a TV because I did not want one. It was not because I could not afford it, considering my counseling profession was paying me more than enough. It was also not because I forgot to get one as I hurried to fill the new house with the essentials. The sole reason was that I did not care for it.

Airing Out My Issues With TVs

Before anything else, I should say that I did not always have an aversion towards televisions. As I said, my parents loved TV, so my childhood days passed by with me sitting in front of it and watching all kinds of shows with them. While those were fond memories, it also meant the I had is a sedentary lifestyle. I enjoyed the TV shows and eating the snacks that my mother would always bring, so I did not feel the need to go out and play with my friends. As a result, I grew wider than taller, and I had been called fat by other kids.

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When I was in college, I almost did not continue studying psychology because all I wanted to do after my boyfriend broke up was binge-watching TV shows. It served as my coping mechanism for weeks, but it was an unhealthy one, given that it made me too lazy to go to my classes. I only realized it once my friends from the same department visited me at my apartment and gave me a little intervention. Hence, I swore off TVs since then.

Then, just a few months ago, my best friend from high school caught up with me on the phone. We were talking about our lives and careers when the topic somehow diverted to COVID-19 vaccination.

My friend said she had been encouraging her parents to get vaccinated and protect themselves from the virus. But, unfortunately, since they heard that some people had an extremely adverse reaction to the drug, they did not want to do it. So instead, they insisted on taking their chance on avoiding people who might view virus carriers instead of getting vaccinated.

The latter was not something I could meddle with, especially if the people involved were not asking for my professional help. Still, it was technically another problem created by media outlets. And if they did not turn on their TVs regularly, my friend’s parents might not think like that.

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Because of that, I always encourage people to avoid watching TV as much as possible.

What Happens If You Don’t Watch TV Too Much

Talk To Loved Ones More

I remembered watching TV can make people cross towards others, especially when their favorite show was on. For instance, if my mom or dad watched TV, no one was supposed to talk to them. If you try, they will cut you off with a loud “Shh!”

When they tried not watching TV at my new home, I was pleasantly surprised by how much we got to talk. I pointed it out to them, and they had the same reaction as I did. Although I could not make them throw away their TV, they said they no longer minded not having one at my house.

Hold On To Your Beliefs

Before I got slightly addicted to the TV during my college days, I believed that healing came from being more active and interacting with your loved ones more. As for my friend’s parents, her dad used to be a doctor, so they should have known better. However, since he retired years ago and gained medical information through news reports, it sounded like he did not trust science as much as he used to.

Now, things could have been different if there was no TV in the equation. For example, after my breakup, I would have gone out with my friends and cried it all out in one go instead of bottling up my feelings. And without TV, my friend’s parents would have been vaccinated by now.

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Keeps You Realistic

TV programs are notorious for pushing a standard of beauty for both men and women. It may happen a lot less now since they are all supposed to be “inclusive,” but we know that idealism still exists.

By not watching too much TV, you get to be who you are and stay contented with yourself. Then, you won’t always say, “How I wish I have a banging body like the Kardashians or as rich as the Kardashians.”

Final Thoughts

TV can be likened to an easily abused substance. It will pull you in and make you feel high; when you stop watching it, you feel down, so you go back for more.

If you can stop watching TV too much, that’s great. But if you want to do it gradually, go for it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Health

I believe that the negative things that have been happening in my life result from the bad decisions I make. I understand, for sure, that no matter how much I try my best to stay positive about everything, there will be those moments that uncertainties wrap me in. With that, I know that my emotional and mental state is not that safe from all the depressing things that I genuinely want to avoid. And despite knowing a lot of helpful information, I know I am not exempted from the mental damage from all the stressors surrounding me.

I won’t say that I am psychologically tough just because I am good at managing my mental health. Honestly, there are things I can’t control. Sometimes, when things get too overwhelming, I push people away, get confused, make wrong moves, and forget to take care of myself. However, I don’t think these instances are a better excuse to make me take my mental and emotional health for granted. I still choose to get better. I don’t want negative things to destroy me because I don’t like it when I am isolated, anxious, stressed, and depressed.

So if you would ask me what’s the secret to staying emotionally and mentally healthy despite dealing with all sorts of emotional and mental torture, allow the answers from these frequently asked questions to guide you.

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How is the brain affected by mental illnesses?

Experts believe that mental illnesses result from communication problems between the neurotransmissions in the brain. When the neurotransmitter serotonin tends to lower down, it disrupts the brain’s function, especially when individuals suffer from depression.

That explains why mental illness can lead to confusion of the information process sing of the brain. Thus, it results in abnormal thinking, perception, mood, and behavior. It would be best to pay attention to the sudden changes in feelings, thoughts, and actions to seek professional help immediately.

 Does psychology help mental illness?

Yes. Psychologists are professionals trained to treat the most serious mental health disorders by assisting and prescribing necessary medications. But their assistance does not end there since they also help people in all aspects of daily life through therapy. These include caring for elderly parents, self-care, parenting, other family matters, or sexual issues.

Therapy is one the most widely used type of treatment that promises to deal with almost all sorts of mental illnesses. But before engaging in the method, people should realize the importance of seeking the right individual that knows how to work best with his job and client relationship.

 Is mental illness a disease?

For a start, mental illness is not a disease but rather a medical problem. Mental illnesses are health conditions concerning sudden changes in emotion, thoughts, or behavior, or a combination of the three. A mental illness is a common state associated with stress and problems functioning in social, work, or family activities.

 Is there a difference between mental illness and mental disorder?

Yes, mental illness is a psychological problem that affects how a person thinks, behaves, and interacts with people. It contains a group of conditions that are often diagnosed through clinical tests with standard criteria. However, the term ‘mental disorder’ relates to the same health problems accompanied by specific signs and symptoms.

But regardless of what the individual has, may it be a mental illness or a mental disorder, it is advisable to seek immediate professional help. The person should take the initiative to know his condition and aim for a diagnosis to get proper mental health treatment.

 What are the five signs of mental illness?

The five warning signs of mental illness include long-lasting grief or irritability, unwarranted fear, worry, anxiety, social withdrawal, and remarkably high and low unregulated moods. It also creates dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits.

But note that some of these signs can be accompanied by other health problems such as headaches, muscle pain, difficulty breathing, etc. If these mental illness signs show physical manifestations, immediately consult a healthcare provider.

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What psychology deals with depression?

Psychology deals with depression by understanding mood or emotional disposition characterized by feelings of guilt and low self-worth. These aspects are the main focus as they intend to reduce a person’s ability to enjoy life.

Psychology explains the danger of too much negativity as it increases the damage of anxiety, stress, and depression.

 How can you help someone mentally?

Here are some of the usual strategies that you can do to help someone mentally. First, listen without making judgments and focus on the persons’ emotional needs at that moment. Second, ask them what would help them in particular, but make sure to avoid confrontation. Try to ask if there is someone they would like you to contact so they can feel comfortable opening up.

Acknowledge and do not push it too hard. Avoid forcing solutions to the mentally ill person, especially if he is not doing anything. Give the individual a space to understand his mental situation so that he manages to deal with it gradually.

 What are the things you should not say to a mentally ill person?

A mentally ill person is way too sensitive. It would be best if you didn’t say these words: “It’s all in your head.”, “Snap out of it!” “This too shall pass.”, “it’s normal.” or “It’s all part of God’s plan.” These words will hurt their feelings and make them think that what they are going through is invalidating.

Please pay close attention to your words. If you do not understand what the person is going through, better not say anything to reassure him that you know what he’s dealing with and know what you are talking about. Be mindful that even if you think the similarity of both your situation is there, you cannot guarantee the person of full understanding because your reasons and triggers are different to begin with.

 How do you deal with a mentally unstable person?

An unstable person can be quite complicated to handle. It is significantly important to stay informed about his/her mental condition. You should develop a helpful approach and encourage the person to seek professional help. Respect them and do not enforce positivity towards their suffering. You can express your feelings but know your limits.

Remember not to comment on stuff when you are not sure of what you are talking about. And if you can’t say anything nice, do yourself a favor and don’t say anything.

 What causes mental illness?

There is tons of possible cause of mental illnesses. It could be by a reaction to biochemical imbalances in the brain, genes and family history, environmental stress, history of abuse in childhood, brain injury, etc. Or it could be a combination of all of these.

 What is the rarest mental illness?

The rarest mental illness is called Apotemnophilia or also known as body integrity identity disorder. It is regarded as the irresistible need to amputate healthy human body parts. There are not many known facts about this disorder, but it is believed to be a neurological condition.

 Can you be born mentally ill?

No. Though susceptibility to various mental disorders, such as bipolar mood disorder, can run in families, it does not guarantee to get determined right after birth. That is because most people develop mental illness even without a family history of the condition.

 Is mental illness permanent?

Unfortunately, there are mental illnesses that tend to be permanent. However, some effective medications and treatments can help aid the signs and symptoms to help people recover and live healthy lives.

 What is the hardest mental illness to live with?

One of the hardest mental illnesses a person has to live with is Borderline personality disorder. It is an illness that manifests in an ongoing pattern of self-image issues, varying moods, and negative behaviors. Borderline personality disorder’s symptoms often result in impulsive actions that cause problems in relationships with other people.

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 What is poor mental health?

Poor mental health can be a lot of things. It can be difficult for most individuals to manage how they think, feel, and act concerning daily stresses. It is where people experience incessant episodes of sadness, emptiness, anxiety, and depression.

 At what age does mental illness start?

Almost fifty percent of people’s mental illness begins at the age of 14. However, others start to experience it by age 24.

 Is mental illness permanent?

Some people may only experience quite a few episodes of mental illness. It might only last a few days, weeks, or months. However, there are those others who have long-term conditions which do not go away. There is no cure for mental illness, and people experiencing it have to deal with mental torture for a long time.

Insight

Having poor mental health is not scary, and it does not mean you are crazy. You are only mentally unstable yet functioning. It is vital to realize that even if you are dealing with a psychological problem, you can always find better ways to cope with it and live your life according to your desire.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Psychoanalysis Therapy

People tend to discount the dreams they experience while asleep. Little do they know that dreams are a representation of actual desires and needs. Well, this is according to Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis. 

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He developed psychoanalysis to study the unconscious and conscious mind of a person. One of his techniques was dream interpretation. He asks the patients to discuss their dreams. Through that, he works to figure out what it meant for them. Freud even had a list of what certain things meant. For example, dreams can mean something sexual. A phallic-shaped or a womb shape in your dream might tell multiple messages. But it usually falls under the category of sex. 

Basically, psychoanalysis aims to pull the unconscious mind into the conscious. It seeks to identify the repressed issues causing current problems. Determining these underlying causes can be quite tricky, especially because the patients are also unaware of them.

Psychoanalysis therapy, according to Freud, typically takes time. The narration of childhood experiences and dreams may take up some sessions to complete. This type of treatment often takes years to finish.

However, there is no single definition for psychoanalysis. Stepping out of Freud’s thinking of psychoanalysis, this concept tends to vary between different experts.

Carl Jung has his archetypes, Erik Erikson, with his development stages, Karen Horney, for her neurotic needs. These psychologists formed works that drew away from Freud’s thinking and in an attempt to develop better psychological theory. 

If you want to know more about psychoanalysis, read the FAQs below.

What is psychoanalysis in simple terms?

Psychoanalysis refers to a set of psychological theories and therapies responsible for treating mental health illnesses. It involves investigating the interaction of the conscious and unconscious factors in the mind. The approach focuses on resurfacing repressed conflicts and fears to the conscious mind. Psychoanalysis uses techniques like free association and dream interpretation.

What is used in psychoanalysis?

Psychoanalysis brings the buried feelings, thoughts, and emotions to the conscious mind. During the sessions, you will discuss significant bad experiences from the past. These adverse events may have affected your behavior, thinking, and relationship. From here, you’ll work towards developing a healthy coping mechanism. It aims to eliminate excess baggage that may affect future relationships and ways of living.

What are psychoanalytic concepts?

Psychoanalytic concepts involve dividing the mind into three components:

  1. Id
  2. Ego
  3. Superego

The id is considered the most primitive among the three. It relies on instant gratification based on physical urges and needs. Meanwhile, the superego mainly focuses on social rules and morals. It revolves around a moral compass and conscience. These things dictate what is right or wrong. Lastly, the ego is the pragmatic and rational part. It is a combination of the conscious and unconscious.

What is the psychoanalytic approach?

The psychoanalytic approach revolves around the idea of touching the unconscious mind more than the conscious mind. It came from the foundational belief that your past experiences affect your actions and behaviors. With this, the trip to psychoanalysis should pass by these four basic components:

  1. interpretation,
  2. transference analysis,
  3. technical neutrality, and
  4. countertransference analysis.

What is the goal of psychoanalysis?

Psychoanalysis aims to make the client aware of the unconscious mind and pick up patterns from here. The feelings, thinking, and behavior you get from here should be studied and checked. It is essential to evaluate whether they are still helpful to your life now. If they are not, then psychoanalysis will help eliminate it from your unconscious mind. It is the best approach for those coping with problems in relationships, satisfaction, among others.

Is Psychoanalysis used today?

Yes, psychoanalysis is still around. However, psychoanalytic treatments are more expensive compared to other mental health treatments in the market.

What is wrong with psychoanalysis?

It has no scientific evidence with the presented ideas. The sole proof of this only relies on case studies. No known experiments happened to prove this. Another problem is it focuses too much on childhood development. Its concept reveals that the unconscious mind works depending on past experiences. However, not all patients have undergone trauma during their childhood.

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Is a psychoanalyst a doctor?

Not all psychoanalysts are doctors. Some of them are professionals who have a Ph.D. or master’s degree in social work or psychology. However, there are also psychiatrists with DO degrees or MD who get into this therapeutic landscape.

Does psychoanalysis really work?

According to experts, psychoanalysis works if there are bottled-up trauma and problems from the past. However, other therapeutic approaches may be more apt for you if your issues do not house these.

How does one become a psychoanalyst?

The only way to become a psychoanalyst is to complete the psychoanalytic training program by the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA). Before this, you need experience as either a clinical social worker, clinical therapist, or clinical counselor. Keep in mind that this area also accepts other professionals who have outstanding qualifications. It does not matter whether they have social work or psychology degrees. They are accepted on a case-to-case basis.

How much money does a psychoanalyst make?

A psychoanalyst’s salary varies significantly. The pay ranges from $60,000 to $160,000 per year. Some of the highest paying states are New Jersey, Rhode Islands, and California, where they make as much as $100,000 per year.

Conclusion

Psychoanalysis might not be used that often anymore. But this theory opened up more discussions on the unconscious and conscious mind. Freud discussed that the unconscious mind is filled with repressed thoughts and feelings. These are often unpleasant, difficult, and not socially accepted. Although Freud connects it to something sexual, it may go further than that. 

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When we feel anger and sadness, our instincts have always been to hide it away or to push it down. No one wants to see an angered person bellow and shout. These negative emotions are not meant to be showcased in public. But by repressing it, it falls into the unconscious mind. We work to ignore it.

However, as time goes by, the hole you dug for hiding these thoughts may fill up. It may come to the point where it can no longer contain your emotions. Eventually, it manifests as these mental health conditions.

Because of these many bottled-up emotions, many theories emerged to help uncorked them. By laying out these emotions, it will be easier to control and manage them. 

One of the therapies that do that is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of psychotherapy helps people who are suffering from anger issues. It enables the patient to become more aware of what they are feeling. Furthermore, it offers ways to identify the triggers. Through this, patients get to respond to it better. 

Anger issues might be a symptom of a mental health problem, with which CBT will help see-through. Some of the common underlying mental disorders that initially manifest as anger are depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or bipolar. If there are indeed more serious problems, the therapy has many various techniques. These methods can help the patient to understand themselves better and manage the condition. 

Although psychoanalysis is not as relevant today as it used to be, it will always remain an important foundation of psychology.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

We do not always have control in life. Sometimes, things go awry. Long-awaited plans may get canceled. People we treasure may end up hurting us. When these things happen, we may feel a swirl of emotions and can turn into anger. It can be positive or negative, depending on what we do with it. Some people may quickly recover or control it while others can’t. The inability to manage anger may cause problems in our life. 

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Uncontrolled anger strains relationships, not only with others but with ourselves. Harmful actions such as physical and verbal abuse may happen as a result of uncontrolled anger. Thus, seeking professional help can significantly improve your anger management if you are suffering from this problem.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy found to help people suffering from anger issues. It focuses on building awareness of destructive thoughts and creating healthy responses to those thoughts.

Seeking professional guidance will help in determining the triggers and causes of your uncontrollable anger. Often,  it is a symptom of another mental health problem. It may be a sign of depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), or bipolar disorder. These conditions can severely affect our quality of life. They make it hard to keep relationships and even function well at work or school.

Fortunately, CBT can address these problems. This therapy utilizes various techniques for patients to understand and manage their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. CBT focuses on a person’s present thoughts and beliefs. It is a short-term treatment backed by many studies.  CBT enables therapists to address their client’s issues by listening to their thoughts. 

CBT may be right for you if you are suffering from anger management issues or any mental health disorder. Here are some frequently asked questions about cognitive behavioral therapy.

What are cognitive-behavioral techniques?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques are cognitive restructuring, exposure, activity scheduling, successive approximation, mindfulness, and skills training. The cognitive restructuring aims to revisit and dig up one’s negative or dysfunctional thinking and develop new and healthier perspectives. Exposure is a method of overcoming fear by gradually exposing the person to the object or fear source.

Meanwhile, successive approximation and activity scheduling are manners of setting mini-goals, which is useful for difficulty accomplishing tasks. Lastly, mindfulness and skills training are techniques to embody and practice newly developed problem-solving skills and manner of thinking.

How do you do cognitive behavioral therapy?

CBT sessions are different from other psychotherapies because it is heavily structured, rather than the client freely talking. CBT’s structured nature is because it is driven to reform a particular way of thinking or behavior. In any case, the structure will still depend on the client’s initial assessment of what pressing problem the therapy will solve.

The CBT therapists will design a plan to address them, which are divided into mini objectives. There will be discussion points after every session to tackle the client’s progress and future path.

What does cognitive behavioral therapy involve?

CBT is concerned with helping deal with critical problems by teaching positive coping mechanisms and perspectives. It involves unpacking the inner thoughts and behaviors and reflecting on past responses to various problems. However, it is essential to highlight that CBT is more focused on your current problems than your past issues. It involves setting mini-goals for you to achieve, may it be psychological, physical, or following or changing a daily routine.

What are the key concepts of cognitive-behavioral therapy?

CBT works on the premise that thoughts, feelings, actions, and physical state are interconnected. It recognizes that thinking affects all aspects of life, including decisions, emotions, and physical well-being. What makes it different from other psychological therapies is that it focuses on problem-solving by looking into a person’s behavior, communication, and present thinking.

What are the 4 steps of cognitive restructuring?

The four cognitive restructuring steps are awareness/consciousness, evaluation, reflecting rationally, and reforming or replacement. The first step is awareness. It is becoming conscious of how you think and how it can potentially affect you. Afterward, assess whether your thoughts are rational and healthy.

After the assessment of thoughts, dig deeper into the reasons behind your perspective, and fact-check it. Finally, take action. Replace your distorted thinking, and plan how you are going to change it.

Can I do cognitive behavioral therapy on my own?

You can apply CBT techniques on your own. However, doing it with a professional gives you a more efficient result. If you do it on your own, remind yourself of some things as you practice CBT techniques. It might get frustrating, but remember to be kind and patient to yourself, respect your process, and do what you love. Grow a habit of being aware or mindful of your thoughts and actions and keep your perspectives in check. It would also help have a book or a program to guide you in doing CBT techniques.

What is CBT for anxiety?

CBT is the most commonly used therapy approach for addressing all sorts of anxiety disorders, including phobias and panic disorder. CBT works to identify and transform negative thoughts and ways of reacting. It also looks into behaviors that contribute to anxiety.

Exposure therapy for anxiety is through step-by-step systematic desensitization or gradual exposure to the trigger until its effect wears off. CBT for anxiety also uses other therapeutic techniques like exercising, relaxation techniques, hypnosis, and biofeedback (monitoring physiological functions).

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How do I practice CBT for anxiety?

Practice CBT by learning about your anxiety, becoming aware of your triggers and the reasons behind them. You must actively grow a healthier set of thinking and reacting and adopt a healthy mental and physical lifestyle. Invest in good connections and relationships with people who support you or who are in the same situation as you. As part of cognitive reframing, you also have to reduce your stressors. Find a way to minimize stress and instead focus on what makes you happy and relaxed.

How long does it take for cognitive behavioral therapy to work?

CBT is not a one-time-big-time overnight change. The usual CBTs take about 12 to 20 weeks, with each session lasting from 30-60 minutes. The practice and effectiveness lie outside of these session hours and more on the everyday applications.

What is CBT not good for?

CBT may not be appropriate for complex mental disorders, such as learning difficulties, social anxiety, and personality disorders. People with learning difficulties may find it hard to cope with the very structured approach of CBT. Simultaneously, it is hard and not that simple to do exposure therapy for people with social anxiety.

Aside from this, CBT may not be for individuals who need to address deeper problems in systems or families mostly because of CBT’s present-focused approach and not so much on past issues.

What are the three main goals in cognitive therapy?

The three main goals of CBT are 1) to help you develop new healthy skills and coping mechanisms, 2) to relieve symptoms and find solutions to the client’s current problems, and 3) to modify the client’s cognitive and behaviors.

Is Rebt a form of CBT?

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy or REBT is one of the earliest forms of CBT. It is a short-term therapy that focuses on present thoughts and feelings that are self-defeating. It also aims to replace it with healthier and more productive beliefs.

What is faulty thinking in CBT?

CBT defines faulty thinking as patterns of thinking that are self-defeating or are distorted perspectives of things. Cognitive distortions are when one’s ways of thinking do not match reality, whether they realize it or not.

How do I change my thinking patterns?

Understand how you look at things and re-examine how rational or are they just toxic and not based on reality? Another helpful practice is learning how to take criticisms and rejections, which we often take heavily. Learning how to take criticisms while still assertively defending yourself can help you think healthier.

Writing your thoughts and feelings will help you process them before it gets the best out of you. Remember also not to forcibly stop unwanted thoughts by merely shoving them off, but instead by positively addressing them.

What does a CBT session look like?

CBT sessions are either a 1-to-1 session or in groups with people in a similar situation as you. It usually takes 30-60 minutes. Sessions typically happen in a clinic, outdoors, or at your home. The first session is about assessments, while the subsequent sessions are oriented towards achieving mini-goals as planned.

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Before the development of CBT, behavior modification focused on reinforcements and punishments. While it was already in practice for years, it does not address the causes of the issue.  The inception of CBT greatly contributed to the treatment of various mental health disorders.  Mental health professionals have applied CBT in their practice to understand better how negative thoughts contribute to mental health problems. 

CBT is one of the first-line treatments for several disorders and conditions. Concrete goals guide this method to measure the progress of a patient’s recovery. With this, studies have easily measured CBT’s efficacy making it one of the most well-researched psychotherapy.  

CBT  can also be useful for other problems not necessarily caused by mental health issues. This therapy can tackle everyday issues ranging from improving sleep quality to handling the loss of loved ones. It can also address problems concerning stress and emotion regulation. 

If you or your loved ones suffer from any mental health disorder, seek immediate professional assistance like CBT. It can help in managing your thoughts and emotions. Also, CBT can significantly improve your outlook in life. You may also discuss what particular techniques within this treatment you want to try and learn to do at home with your therapist.

Proper emotional and behavioral regulation is essential for us to deal with life’s problems. It is normal to feel angry, anxious, or sad. But when these emotions become too much, seeking a professional’s help would help us regain a healthy body and mind. 

Save Your Overall Emotional And Mental Health And Avoid These Types Of People

Part of your existence is to be surrounded by individuals who can either contribute greatly to the development or destroy your overall well-being. It is inevitable. Usually, you get used to some of their antics, while you get fed up and annoyed at tough times. That is because human relationships include a lot of things. Some of which are tolerance, honesty, trust, care, love, and sense of humor. But even if you have all of these, not all connections are guaranteed healthy. There are those individuals who can cause too much physical, emotional, and mental stress in your whole system. In this article, we will try to mention some of those.

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The Know-It-All – A Know-It-All person is sometimes tolerable, especially if you happen to master the art of dealing with his behavior. The personality that the temperamental people often portray serves the purpose of trying to build themselves up and creating chaos. He always wants to look intelligent and charming around other people, even if it means he has to lie.  Usually, this type of envious person has less concern with other people’s feelings as he possesses poor listening ability. The worst part of this character is the individual’s inability to read social cues.

You should know the types of people to avoid because of the tendency to experience unfavorable treatment from a narcissistic personality disorder that could develop over time. And since this person believes he knows everything, nothing you say will be correct or accurate to him. If you choose to stick with this person, you will soon lose your ability to express yourself and eventually doubt your feelings and capabilities.

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The Advantage-Taker – An advantage taker is someone that you might say is a wise individual. He is a person who knows what he wants and understands the need for sacrifices to get whatever it is that he desires. He is an expert in lying, shaming, denial, and seduction. He is a person who knows how to use perfect diversions for selective intentions while playing the victim. An advantage taker is often friendly, enthusiastic, and has a lot of good vibes. However, this individual shows himself when things are unfavorable for him. He will sometimes care about your needs but will never do a good deed for free. You cannot ensure a good relationship with this person because he only appreciates your worth when he knows you can provide the things he needs. This type of person does not compromise with your situation and often pressures you to work on your responsibilities for his sake. He should be avoided because of his selfish and unethical way of dealing with other people, even with little or no giving.

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The Too-Good-To-Be-True – Most self-absorbed people with a too-good-to-be-true vibe always have a positive outlook in life and that somehow everything he does is admirable. This person is often a friendly, charming, confident, and happy individual. Most times, you can never see anything wrong with this person because he handles himself amazingly well. It is as if he understands what character perfection is. However, though you might feel comfortable and secure around him, there is always something that can flip the table. Usually, a too-good-to-be-true character could be a lot of unexpected things. At times, arrogant individuals often hide tons of skeletons in their closet. Some of his imperfections could include addiction, personality disorder, manipulative and selfish traits, as well as abusive behavior and negative thinking. Judgmental individuals are the ones who only show the good sides of him and try their best not to crack with the persona he has perfected.

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The Toxic – The most common type of person that you should avoid as much as possible is the toxic one that instantly sucks people’s souls. Usually, the red flags are always out, and all you have to do is push the person away. That is because a toxic individual is way out of the boundary. He has opinions about everything you do. It is as if this person is ruining your life intentionally. Toxic individuals defy logic and always complain and make you feel that your life is your responsibility. He blames you for the wrong decisions he makes and condemns you if you choose not to lend a hand. Everything you do for this person is not enough, and he always has a lot of something to say with your commitments. He gets to make you feel bad or feel terrible and worthless as he exerts an effort to get involved in your other personal relationships. This individual can destroy your emotional and mental well-being by not doing anything drastic at all and cause a negative impact.

To save your mental health, you need to understand the things you need to put up with negative people. Whether they are your closest friends, colleagues, family, or special someone, they need to know the limitations of their involvement in your life. You have to avoid these know-it-all, advantage-taker, too-good-to-be-true, and truly toxic individuals for the sake of your development and inner peace.

Frequently Asked Questions

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