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Trying to make sense of this frequency, changing to another when necessary...constantly searching for truth through Tarot, writing, travel, photography, friends, and fun.
Showing posts with label Psychology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Psychology. Show all posts

Friday, May 22, 2015

Just Do the Work

Lately I have been going to therapy. Just about every week I meet with a psychologist, one who specializes in cognitive therapy. This type of therapy is defined as follows:

  1. Cognitive behavioral therapy (also known by its abbreviation, CBT) is a short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment that takes a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving. Its goal is to change patterns of thinking or behavior that are behind people's difficulties, and so change the way they feel.
So far I feel that I have made a number of "breakthroughs". Part of the therapy is a sort of meditation practice in which you quiet your mind, and make note of the thoughts that flow through you. You identify the patterns, and then determine the actions needed to change the ones that do not serve you. 

One of my patterns stems from my natural tendency to lean toward the "dramatic". As a writer, I color my experiences with descriptive thoughts that tell a story. The story then becomes my reality. I have to be more mindful of the stories that I tell myself, as my reality can go one of two ways; having a negative or positive effect on my overall outlook and mood. 

This is much easier said than done. I have been using this thought pattern my whole life. Changing it will take practice...not only in making the unconscious - conscious but also taking the time out of my day, every single day to meditate on my state of mind. 

It is frustrating to me - to know so much about how to help myself and not be able to have the immediate satisfaction of just being better by default of knowing what needs to be done to fix it. 

My mantra going forward is: JUST DO THE WORK. 


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

If you want to laugh about depression read this blog

This is the best/funniest explanation/outline of someone's experience with depression I have ever read in my entire life. I have read both part one and part two multiple times. Allie doesn't just write about depression, she has lots of other funny/relateable stories on her awesome blog "Hyperbole and a Half". Check it out, laugh your ass off; you're welcome!