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Jun
11
Depression Treatment Options For Adults
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Ryan King questioned:
There are several depression treatment options available for adults. Firstly, what do we mean when we talk about depression?
Depression is a lot more than just having a terrible day or being in a terrible mood. It is a mental illness that has a physiological base. A chemical imbalance in the person’s brain is responsible for feelings of hopelessness and negativity. This illness is not something that a person is capable of just shaking off and it won’t get better by taking a vacation or getting some more sleep. But, most people with this disorder will get better with proper depression treatment.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive behavior therapy as a depression treatment has two parts. “Cognitive” refers to teaching the person suffering from depression a different way of thinking. The thought is that the way that we reckon has a fantastic deal to do with our health. Cognitive therapy is not the same thing as just thinking positive or “looking on the bright side”.
The person undergoing depression treatment might well have to un-learn several years of negative thinking. It’s an ongoing process and is not something that will be overcome in just a few days or weeks. Over time, though, the person undergoing treatment will find that it gets a small simpler not to view every life experience through a filter that fo-cuses on the more negative aspects of the experience.
The cognitive therapy will also help the individual to have a better perspective about his or her life experiences. When one is in the midst of depression, it is very simple to see everything that happens as a fantastic catastrophe, with the result that there is no room for hope that things will ever improve.
The behavior part of cognitive behavior therapy as a depression treatment deals with helping the person undergoing treatment with choosing to change his or her behavior. The theory is that once a person improves his or her thought processes, he or she will choose to behave in a better fashion. If someone sees themselves as unworthy or not deserving of like, they are more likely to make poor choices about the types of people they become close to or the types of activities they choose to undertake.
By using this two-pronged approach to depression treatment, it is more likely that the treatment itself will be successful.
Natural Remedies for Depression Treatment
Several natural remedies are used to treat depression, whether as a complement to other forms of therapy or as an alternative therapy in and of itself.
One of the most well loved natural remedies is St. John’s Wort. Clinical trials conducted seem to support the theory that St. John’s Wort works as a depression treatment by regulating several neurotransmitters in the brain. The result is that those people who use this perennial herb tend to have fewer mood swings and are better able to maintain a postive mood balance.
It is fascinating to note that in Europe, St. John’s Wort is prescribed much more often than standard antidepressant medication. It is also used to treat anxiety, panic attacks, and sleep disorders.
B Vitamins (B1, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12)
Symptoms of depression have been linked to a deficiency in B vitamins. It is advisable for all adults to take a multiple vitamin supplement every day. These vitamins can also be found in such food products as breads, cereals, pasta, meat, fish, nuts, and eggs.
When it comes to depression treatment options, no one treatment will provide the relief the person is searching for. The best way to tackle the problem of depression is to use a multi-faceted approach with a combination of medication and therapy.
Make a video blog
There are several depression treatment options available for adults. Firstly, what do we mean when we talk about depression?
Depression is a lot more than just having a terrible day or being in a terrible mood. It is a mental illness that has a physiological base. A chemical imbalance in the person’s brain is responsible for feelings of hopelessness and negativity. This illness is not something that a person is capable of just shaking off and it won’t get better by taking a vacation or getting some more sleep. But, most people with this disorder will get better with proper depression treatment.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Cognitive behavior therapy as a depression treatment has two parts. “Cognitive” refers to teaching the person suffering from depression a different way of thinking. The thought is that the way that we reckon has a fantastic deal to do with our health. Cognitive therapy is not the same thing as just thinking positive or “looking on the bright side”.
The person undergoing depression treatment might well have to un-learn several years of negative thinking. It’s an ongoing process and is not something that will be overcome in just a few days or weeks. Over time, though, the person undergoing treatment will find that it gets a small simpler not to view every life experience through a filter that fo-cuses on the more negative aspects of the experience.
The cognitive therapy will also help the individual to have a better perspective about his or her life experiences. When one is in the midst of depression, it is very simple to see everything that happens as a fantastic catastrophe, with the result that there is no room for hope that things will ever improve.
The behavior part of cognitive behavior therapy as a depression treatment deals with helping the person undergoing treatment with choosing to change his or her behavior. The theory is that once a person improves his or her thought processes, he or she will choose to behave in a better fashion. If someone sees themselves as unworthy or not deserving of like, they are more likely to make poor choices about the types of people they become close to or the types of activities they choose to undertake.
By using this two-pronged approach to depression treatment, it is more likely that the treatment itself will be successful.
Natural Remedies for Depression Treatment
Several natural remedies are used to treat depression, whether as a complement to other forms of therapy or as an alternative therapy in and of itself.
One of the most well loved natural remedies is St. John’s Wort. Clinical trials conducted seem to support the theory that St. John’s Wort works as a depression treatment by regulating several neurotransmitters in the brain. The result is that those people who use this perennial herb tend to have fewer mood swings and are better able to maintain a postive mood balance.
It is fascinating to note that in Europe, St. John’s Wort is prescribed much more often than standard antidepressant medication. It is also used to treat anxiety, panic attacks, and sleep disorders.
B Vitamins (B1, B3, B5, B6, B9, B12)
Symptoms of depression have been linked to a deficiency in B vitamins. It is advisable for all adults to take a multiple vitamin supplement every day. These vitamins can also be found in such food products as breads, cereals, pasta, meat, fish, nuts, and eggs.
When it comes to depression treatment options, no one treatment will provide the relief the person is searching for. The best way to tackle the problem of depression is to use a multi-faceted approach with a combination of medication and therapy.
Make a video blog
Jun
11
Alexander Matis questioned:
Apart of Manic Depressive Disorder (also called Bipolar Disorder) the two main known types of depression are Major Depression and Dysthymia. Both types of depression can easily be distinguished from each other although intertype episodes, especially of Major Depression in Dysthymia patients, are commonly experienced. So what are the differences between those two types of depression?
Major Depression
Arguably Major Depression is the mental disorder that a layman would associate with the term “depression”. As the name of the illness implies it is the case that patients suffering from this type of depression show many or even all classic signs of depression in their most severe form. Such symptoms include a change in natural sleep patterns leading to excessive sleepiness and / or insomnia; a loss of appetite, motivation and drive even for simple activities and ones, which had previously been loved by the patient; (often unexplainable) deep sadness; anxiety episodes; the inability to meet and entertain people, including close friends and relatives; a general lack of self-esteem; and potentially strong thoughts of terminal disease, dead and *******. Major Depression can happen as a single devastating episode often associated with a so-called “life-event” such as the death of a dear relative or close friend, or an accident leading to permanent disablement. In such cases it may pass away after proper treatment, usually by combined application of anti depressants and psychotherapy, to never appear again. But, in many instances episodes of Major Depression happen without a major life-event though some external trigger can normally be identified. Triggers of Major Depression may for example be a seemingly minor incident such as a family quarrel, or a more severe incident such as chemical poisoning. Also, there are many cases where this type of depression occurs more then once during a patient’s lifetime.
Dysthymia
In a way Dysthymia is the less severe of the two mentioned types of depression as the usual symptoms of depression described before commonly occur in a weakened form and are less debilitating. But hard it is for her the Dysthymia patient usually is still able to live her life and to pursue her work (although it costs her much effort), while someone suffering from Major Depression may not even be able to leave his bed in the morning. In other words: The Dysthymia patient does not function properly - the Major Depression patient may not function at all. But, the downside of having Dysthymia rather than Major Depression is that the former is a chronic disease that may need constant treatment during a patient’s life. Also, Dysthymia patients often experience one or more episodes of Major Depression on top of their Dysthymia disease during their lifetime.
While Major Depression and Dysthymia are closely connected but different types of depression they have in common that they are both types of depression that can be treated very successfully. The usual treatment for both types of depression includes anti depressants, talk therapy and a change in lifestyle towards proper nutrition, sports and selected recreational activities, etc. Treatment does possibly though not necessarily result in a cure of the disease, i.e. the disorder never reappears after treatment is stopped. In any case it does certainly lead to an increased standard of living as there will be prolonged episodes without disease. Thus, while both types of depression are severe mental disorders they have lost lots of their threatening potential due to today’s medical achievements.
Content
Apart of Manic Depressive Disorder (also called Bipolar Disorder) the two main known types of depression are Major Depression and Dysthymia. Both types of depression can easily be distinguished from each other although intertype episodes, especially of Major Depression in Dysthymia patients, are commonly experienced. So what are the differences between those two types of depression?
Major Depression
Arguably Major Depression is the mental disorder that a layman would associate with the term “depression”. As the name of the illness implies it is the case that patients suffering from this type of depression show many or even all classic signs of depression in their most severe form. Such symptoms include a change in natural sleep patterns leading to excessive sleepiness and / or insomnia; a loss of appetite, motivation and drive even for simple activities and ones, which had previously been loved by the patient; (often unexplainable) deep sadness; anxiety episodes; the inability to meet and entertain people, including close friends and relatives; a general lack of self-esteem; and potentially strong thoughts of terminal disease, dead and *******. Major Depression can happen as a single devastating episode often associated with a so-called “life-event” such as the death of a dear relative or close friend, or an accident leading to permanent disablement. In such cases it may pass away after proper treatment, usually by combined application of anti depressants and psychotherapy, to never appear again. But, in many instances episodes of Major Depression happen without a major life-event though some external trigger can normally be identified. Triggers of Major Depression may for example be a seemingly minor incident such as a family quarrel, or a more severe incident such as chemical poisoning. Also, there are many cases where this type of depression occurs more then once during a patient’s lifetime.
Dysthymia
In a way Dysthymia is the less severe of the two mentioned types of depression as the usual symptoms of depression described before commonly occur in a weakened form and are less debilitating. But hard it is for her the Dysthymia patient usually is still able to live her life and to pursue her work (although it costs her much effort), while someone suffering from Major Depression may not even be able to leave his bed in the morning. In other words: The Dysthymia patient does not function properly - the Major Depression patient may not function at all. But, the downside of having Dysthymia rather than Major Depression is that the former is a chronic disease that may need constant treatment during a patient’s life. Also, Dysthymia patients often experience one or more episodes of Major Depression on top of their Dysthymia disease during their lifetime.
While Major Depression and Dysthymia are closely connected but different types of depression they have in common that they are both types of depression that can be treated very successfully. The usual treatment for both types of depression includes anti depressants, talk therapy and a change in lifestyle towards proper nutrition, sports and selected recreational activities, etc. Treatment does possibly though not necessarily result in a cure of the disease, i.e. the disorder never reappears after treatment is stopped. In any case it does certainly lead to an increased standard of living as there will be prolonged episodes without disease. Thus, while both types of depression are severe mental disorders they have lost lots of their threatening potential due to today’s medical achievements.
Content
Jun
11
Depression Anxiety Sleep Disorder Treatment: Five Ways Of Dealing With The Condition
Filed Under Medicine | Leave a Comment
Flor Serquina questioned:
Depression anxiety sleep disorder treatment usually involves a trip to a psychiatrist and a daily dose of sleeping pills and/or anti-anxiety medications. But, there are alternative means available to you to face this disorder without resorting much to medications. If you have the will power, patience and courage to fight depression, you can succeed using these alternative means.
Sleep disorder goes hand in hand with depression and anxiety.
It has been documented by psychiatrists that nearly all of those who are suffering from depression and anxiety have sleep disorder. The reason for this is said to be physiological in nature.
Whenever a person is depressed and nervous, his body is in what doctors call a “fight or flight” mode. This means that the body is full of epinephrine. Fight or flight response occurs naturally in a person whenever he faces a hard situation that threatens his being. It is a natural or instinctive survival response of humans to adversities.
For instance, when there’s a fire, the body will produce epinephrine to be able to go quickly, be more alert, have heightened senses and save strength. So, if an nervous person is in a fight or flight mode, he would have difficulty sleeping. With less sleep, this also means that the hormonal imbalance will continue to disrupt the normal processes of the body.
With these, it means the best depression anxiety sleep disorder treatment is something that confronts anxiety. And thus, the alternative mode of treatment for this disorder shall focus on attacking anxiety.
1. Get vitamin E and B complex supplements.
Vitamin B complex is known to cool the nerves. This is best taken at night. But do you know that Vitamin E can also help you sleep at night? These two wonder vitamins are the best alternative to depression anxiety sleep disorder treatments and medications. They naturally help the body to relax and be ready to sleep.
2. Avoid sugar and caffeine.
Sugar and caffeine perk a person up, which is why pancakes and coffees are best taken during early mornings. But, since your anxiety has increased your levels of epinephrine, you don’t need anymore of those things that will perk you up. Avoid sugar and caffeine at all cost. As an alternative to coffee, try chamomile tea. This is caffeine free and soothes the nerves, too.
3. Learn how to meditate.
You don’t need to be a guru to learn how to meditate. Just attend a couple of yoga sessions that will teach you the basics on right breathing and meditation techniques. Meditation will slow down your heart rate and will cool your mind. If you can, continue what you have started with yoga. It will do you excellent.
4. Get counseling.
Counseling is vital for your speedy recovery. Even without medications you can hire the services of a therapist to help you manage your illness and give you a chance to voice out your feelings and emotions to help you deal with your anxiety and depression without dread.
A therapist can give you more recommendations as to what other alternative means of depression anxiety sleep disorder treatment is available to you. And if you are already into alternative treatment, you can question your therapist if you are on the right track and share with him your progress.
5. Tire yourself with exercise.
Instead of spending your time thinking, tire yourself with exercise. Release that excess epinephrine through working out. Walk, run the treadmill, swim, jog — these are some of the many cardiovascular exercises that can help you release that excess energy. Do this at night, three hours before your scheduled sleeping time. This way, after a tiring exercise session, your body is ready to relax and sleep to recharge for the next day.
These are just a few of the many alternative depression anxiety sleep disorder treatments that you can choose from. If you find any of these alternative treatments to be sound and helpful for your condition, discuss with your therapist how you can incorporate them in your program towards being well.
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Depression anxiety sleep disorder treatment usually involves a trip to a psychiatrist and a daily dose of sleeping pills and/or anti-anxiety medications. But, there are alternative means available to you to face this disorder without resorting much to medications. If you have the will power, patience and courage to fight depression, you can succeed using these alternative means.
Sleep disorder goes hand in hand with depression and anxiety.
It has been documented by psychiatrists that nearly all of those who are suffering from depression and anxiety have sleep disorder. The reason for this is said to be physiological in nature.
Whenever a person is depressed and nervous, his body is in what doctors call a “fight or flight” mode. This means that the body is full of epinephrine. Fight or flight response occurs naturally in a person whenever he faces a hard situation that threatens his being. It is a natural or instinctive survival response of humans to adversities.
For instance, when there’s a fire, the body will produce epinephrine to be able to go quickly, be more alert, have heightened senses and save strength. So, if an nervous person is in a fight or flight mode, he would have difficulty sleeping. With less sleep, this also means that the hormonal imbalance will continue to disrupt the normal processes of the body.
With these, it means the best depression anxiety sleep disorder treatment is something that confronts anxiety. And thus, the alternative mode of treatment for this disorder shall focus on attacking anxiety.
1. Get vitamin E and B complex supplements.
Vitamin B complex is known to cool the nerves. This is best taken at night. But do you know that Vitamin E can also help you sleep at night? These two wonder vitamins are the best alternative to depression anxiety sleep disorder treatments and medications. They naturally help the body to relax and be ready to sleep.
2. Avoid sugar and caffeine.
Sugar and caffeine perk a person up, which is why pancakes and coffees are best taken during early mornings. But, since your anxiety has increased your levels of epinephrine, you don’t need anymore of those things that will perk you up. Avoid sugar and caffeine at all cost. As an alternative to coffee, try chamomile tea. This is caffeine free and soothes the nerves, too.
3. Learn how to meditate.
You don’t need to be a guru to learn how to meditate. Just attend a couple of yoga sessions that will teach you the basics on right breathing and meditation techniques. Meditation will slow down your heart rate and will cool your mind. If you can, continue what you have started with yoga. It will do you excellent.
4. Get counseling.
Counseling is vital for your speedy recovery. Even without medications you can hire the services of a therapist to help you manage your illness and give you a chance to voice out your feelings and emotions to help you deal with your anxiety and depression without dread.
A therapist can give you more recommendations as to what other alternative means of depression anxiety sleep disorder treatment is available to you. And if you are already into alternative treatment, you can question your therapist if you are on the right track and share with him your progress.
5. Tire yourself with exercise.
Instead of spending your time thinking, tire yourself with exercise. Release that excess epinephrine through working out. Walk, run the treadmill, swim, jog — these are some of the many cardiovascular exercises that can help you release that excess energy. Do this at night, three hours before your scheduled sleeping time. This way, after a tiring exercise session, your body is ready to relax and sleep to recharge for the next day.
These are just a few of the many alternative depression anxiety sleep disorder treatments that you can choose from. If you find any of these alternative treatments to be sound and helpful for your condition, discuss with your therapist how you can incorporate them in your program towards being well.
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Jun
11
Acupuncture For Insomnia Depression Anxiety More Effective Than Drugs
Filed Under Medicine | Leave a Comment
The Content Group questioned:
Anyone that has a problem such as acute depression, stress or anxiety must need a proper treatment for their problem. A excellent option for them would be acupuncture for insomnia depression anxiety which will be sure to help them because acupuncture is a holistic means that helps in the integration of body and mind functions to solve all kinds of problems in a natural as well as effective manner.
Thus, it is safe to say that acupuncture for insomnia depression anxiety is a far better means of treating insomnia depression anxiety as compared with taking anti-depressant pills, or even drugs for combating anxiety.
Elevates a Person’s Mood
In fact, acupuncture for insomnia depression anxiety is a fantastic means of elevating a person’s mood and so it pays to know a bit about what acupuncture is before considering it as a viable means to treat insomnia depression anxiety. Acupuncture is a treatment method that involves sticking fine needles into certain parts of the human body which results in relief from pain and also disease. It works in that it balances the life energy also called “Chi” that in turn causes the spiritual as well as physical and also emotional balances to be enhanced.
When choosing acupuncture for insomnia depression anxiety as a treatment method, one must realize that there are different techniques used and it could mean getting acupuncture with or without the use of needles. Often, the cause behind a person suffering from migraines and headaches is a lack of proper blood circulation and acupuncture can help restores the blood circulation which makes the mind clear and betters the concentration while also making a person more positive in his or her feeling.
Acupuncture for insomnia depression anxiety is probably the best alternative and when a person suffers from insomnia he or she will not be getting enough sleep and with acupuncture you will find that it helps to send complex signals to the brain that induces a person to relax and also get enough sleep thereby curing the disease.
Along with insomnia, depression as well as anxiety are other ailments that cause different physical as well as mental diseases for which acupuncture for insomnia depression anxiety is most suitable as it involves inserting needles in the ear cartilage, skin as well as on fingertips and some other meridian points in order to let the energy flow that had been blocked. This new and free flow of energy will cure depression, and also anxiety nearly immediately. That is why it is most advisable to opt for acupuncture for insomnia depression anxiety rather than turn to chemically produced drugs. http://www.about-sleep-disorder.com/
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Anyone that has a problem such as acute depression, stress or anxiety must need a proper treatment for their problem. A excellent option for them would be acupuncture for insomnia depression anxiety which will be sure to help them because acupuncture is a holistic means that helps in the integration of body and mind functions to solve all kinds of problems in a natural as well as effective manner.
Thus, it is safe to say that acupuncture for insomnia depression anxiety is a far better means of treating insomnia depression anxiety as compared with taking anti-depressant pills, or even drugs for combating anxiety.
Elevates a Person’s Mood
In fact, acupuncture for insomnia depression anxiety is a fantastic means of elevating a person’s mood and so it pays to know a bit about what acupuncture is before considering it as a viable means to treat insomnia depression anxiety. Acupuncture is a treatment method that involves sticking fine needles into certain parts of the human body which results in relief from pain and also disease. It works in that it balances the life energy also called “Chi” that in turn causes the spiritual as well as physical and also emotional balances to be enhanced.
When choosing acupuncture for insomnia depression anxiety as a treatment method, one must realize that there are different techniques used and it could mean getting acupuncture with or without the use of needles. Often, the cause behind a person suffering from migraines and headaches is a lack of proper blood circulation and acupuncture can help restores the blood circulation which makes the mind clear and betters the concentration while also making a person more positive in his or her feeling.
Acupuncture for insomnia depression anxiety is probably the best alternative and when a person suffers from insomnia he or she will not be getting enough sleep and with acupuncture you will find that it helps to send complex signals to the brain that induces a person to relax and also get enough sleep thereby curing the disease.
Along with insomnia, depression as well as anxiety are other ailments that cause different physical as well as mental diseases for which acupuncture for insomnia depression anxiety is most suitable as it involves inserting needles in the ear cartilage, skin as well as on fingertips and some other meridian points in order to let the energy flow that had been blocked. This new and free flow of energy will cure depression, and also anxiety nearly immediately. That is why it is most advisable to opt for acupuncture for insomnia depression anxiety rather than turn to chemically produced drugs. http://www.about-sleep-disorder.com/
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Jun
11
Bibliotherapy: Freeing Yourself From Depression, Anxiety, Stress And OCD
Filed Under Medicine | Leave a Comment
Karen Hastings, Edinburgh questioned:
If you feel that you could manage your depression, anxiety, OCD or stress if only you had the tools, then why not try a excellent self-help book. This is a cheaper option for those who cannot afford private therapy or give those waiting to see an NHS Cognitive Behavioural Therapists (CBT), the foundation to start to manage their own mental-health.
There is wealth of self-help books out there and it can be overwhelming deciding which ones will be most useful. I regularly prescribe reading and practical exercises taken from self-help manuals as part of CBT and NLP treatment at my therapy practice in Edinburgh. In this article, I list and describe some of the books that I have found most useful in relation to specific problems, in a bid to make choosing the book for you a bit simpler!
For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
My book of choice is “Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - A self-help guide using Cognitive Behavioral Techniques” by David Veale and Rob Willson. This book is a clear and practical step-by-step guide to regaining control of your OCD and your life! The book contains a CBT approach that is specifically aimed at OCD. This is very vital since some CBT approaches used to treat other problems such as anxiety and depression can be unhelpful when applied to OCD. This book is applicable to OCD in it’s varying forms, e.g. for those who experience pure obsessions, for those who carry out internal mental rituals and for those who show compulsive behaviours. What I like about this book is that it is very frank and can help to show the person with OCD that they need not be ashamed of the content of their intrusive thoughts, images and urges. Some of the people I work with using CBT in Edinburgh, have found that they need help in applying the book from a therapist.
For Depression
I recommend ” The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression” by William Knaus. This book combines Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy and common sense in an simple to follow format that includes practical exercises that can help you find your way out of a depressive state. By practicing the techniques presented in the book, you can learn the skills to defeat depressive thinking. The book takes into account all factors related to being depressed that can make any action hard and gives you tips on how to deal with procrastination, lack of energy and motivation.
I also recommend “The Mindful way Through Depression - Freeing Yourself From Chronic Unhappiness” by Williams, Teasdale, Segal and Zinn. Mindfulness is a technique that has its origins in Buddhism but that is used without any religious connotations within the field of cognitive therapy to help people learn to break the cycle of mental habits such as rumination and self-blame which perpetuate depression. Mindfulness involves disengaging from this type of mental activity. This book is written in the format of a program and includes a CD to follow of guided mindfulness meditation practices.
Mindfulness techniques are very useful for anxiety and OCD disorders also.
For Anxiety and Stress
A useful book that I use with people seeking CBT therapy, Edinburgh is “The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook” by Edmund Bourne. This is a really comprehensive book that gives step-by-step guidance in overcoming anxiety and covers various factors including relaxation and meditation skills, exercise, coping with panic, dealing with negative self-talk and irrational beliefs, visualisation, self-esteem, medication, nutrition and more.
Finally a book that it more general but useful for anxiety, depression or stress is “Mind Over Mood - Change the Way you Feel by Changing The Way You Reckon” by Greenberger and Padesky This is a simple to follow book that really targets illogical and irrational thinking styles that drive depression and anxiety. It includes worksheets to follow.
Finally, its vital to remember when considering a book to start self-help that like therapy, self-help books and the exercises they direct you to do, must be practiced diligently and consistently in order to work.
Content - Members-Only Content for WordPress
If you feel that you could manage your depression, anxiety, OCD or stress if only you had the tools, then why not try a excellent self-help book. This is a cheaper option for those who cannot afford private therapy or give those waiting to see an NHS Cognitive Behavioural Therapists (CBT), the foundation to start to manage their own mental-health.
There is wealth of self-help books out there and it can be overwhelming deciding which ones will be most useful. I regularly prescribe reading and practical exercises taken from self-help manuals as part of CBT and NLP treatment at my therapy practice in Edinburgh. In this article, I list and describe some of the books that I have found most useful in relation to specific problems, in a bid to make choosing the book for you a bit simpler!
For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
My book of choice is “Overcoming Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - A self-help guide using Cognitive Behavioral Techniques” by David Veale and Rob Willson. This book is a clear and practical step-by-step guide to regaining control of your OCD and your life! The book contains a CBT approach that is specifically aimed at OCD. This is very vital since some CBT approaches used to treat other problems such as anxiety and depression can be unhelpful when applied to OCD. This book is applicable to OCD in it’s varying forms, e.g. for those who experience pure obsessions, for those who carry out internal mental rituals and for those who show compulsive behaviours. What I like about this book is that it is very frank and can help to show the person with OCD that they need not be ashamed of the content of their intrusive thoughts, images and urges. Some of the people I work with using CBT in Edinburgh, have found that they need help in applying the book from a therapist.
For Depression
I recommend ” The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression” by William Knaus. This book combines Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy and common sense in an simple to follow format that includes practical exercises that can help you find your way out of a depressive state. By practicing the techniques presented in the book, you can learn the skills to defeat depressive thinking. The book takes into account all factors related to being depressed that can make any action hard and gives you tips on how to deal with procrastination, lack of energy and motivation.
I also recommend “The Mindful way Through Depression - Freeing Yourself From Chronic Unhappiness” by Williams, Teasdale, Segal and Zinn. Mindfulness is a technique that has its origins in Buddhism but that is used without any religious connotations within the field of cognitive therapy to help people learn to break the cycle of mental habits such as rumination and self-blame which perpetuate depression. Mindfulness involves disengaging from this type of mental activity. This book is written in the format of a program and includes a CD to follow of guided mindfulness meditation practices.
Mindfulness techniques are very useful for anxiety and OCD disorders also.
For Anxiety and Stress
A useful book that I use with people seeking CBT therapy, Edinburgh is “The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook” by Edmund Bourne. This is a really comprehensive book that gives step-by-step guidance in overcoming anxiety and covers various factors including relaxation and meditation skills, exercise, coping with panic, dealing with negative self-talk and irrational beliefs, visualisation, self-esteem, medication, nutrition and more.
Finally a book that it more general but useful for anxiety, depression or stress is “Mind Over Mood - Change the Way you Feel by Changing The Way You Reckon” by Greenberger and Padesky This is a simple to follow book that really targets illogical and irrational thinking styles that drive depression and anxiety. It includes worksheets to follow.
Finally, its vital to remember when considering a book to start self-help that like therapy, self-help books and the exercises they direct you to do, must be practiced diligently and consistently in order to work.
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