Reddit reviews Change Your Thinking: Overcome Stress, Combat Anxiety and Improve Your Life with CBT

Right. 4 years ago I nearly threw myself under a train. I had had full-on clinical depression for about 5 years and I was simply sick of dealing with it (not that I was really dealing with it at all).

Then a friend of mine gave me a book on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The one I had specifically was this one and I swear it changed my life. Or rather, it didn't change anything - the only difference between myself then and the happy, non-depressed me was that I had absolutely no perspective on my life.

CBT is essentially the art of logical thinking. There is no mumbo-jumbo to it - it's based on the science of depression. The things that have happened to you are not positive, but a great deal of panic and pain can be avoided by just changing the way you think and becoming more 'present' in the world you live in. This won't change the events, but it'll change the way you perceive them.

The best thing is, you don't need anyone to do CBT but yourself, and the fact that you've posted here in the first place means that you're taking positive steps to helping yourself. I cannot recommend this kind of thing enough. 4 years on and I'm quitting my job, I'm single and I've been thrown out of my house - all of which would have sent me spiralling back then. Now I'm more than okay - I'm actually pretty fucking happy. :) Seeking treatment makes you STRONG, not weak. It shows that rather than caving into depression you are seeking to fight it. And fighting it is hard, but worth it. I thought my depression would plague my life forever but I managed to realise that it was all about how I thought, not what was happening to me.

You will be happy if you choose to be, but it is a choice. The fact that you've taken a step in this direction is wonderful. Sorry that I can't be there in person to give you a cuddle, but right now you need to be your own best friend and start looking after yourself, first and foremost.

i found a good self-help book on cognitive behavioral therapy since your last post- see here. i think if you try that in conjunction with lying on the floor in a dark room and doing alternate nostril pranayama breathing, it would help you a lot. both have worked wonders for me anyway. you might also want to check into some yoga classes online, such as these.

Hi hollie,

If I may be brutally honest. I had never heard of you until I saw a post of yours in r/randomactsofblowjob and I looked at a bunch of your picture submission before I messaged you. Then I went back and read more of these posts.

If you can look past that sordid reason for me messaging you in the first place I'd like you to hear what I have to say.

I wanted to wait to see if you posted again and still felt the same before I commented. Some may say stalkery, I would say concerned for another.

I'm not just here to tell you "its going to get better" or things like that. I think your absolutely right. People are selfish and manipulative but not everyone is like that. The truth is some people are just dicks but you know the positive out of this? You seem to have a pretty good idea who the assholes are. Now the trick is just to avoid them.

I know you say that you're a horrible person but everyone does bad things. Sometimes on purpose, Sometimes just through lack of experience. Don't let it get to you, how you deal with the bad things after counts too. Giving up is just letting the bad things get the best of you and I don't care who you are or how fucked up you feel you can always beat the bad things.

A few thing's about me. I'm 30 now and in the past I was bullied at school, felt like an outsider, I've attempted suicide, cut, been in anger therapy... most things apart from had medication. I've spent a lot of my life feeling alone and "wrong in the head" contemplated suicide a lot, hated myself.

The thing is life isn't easy, relationships are hard but the pain is part of the experience. Accepting that is a big step. I still have a long way to go. I still stumble last year I lost my dad, it really wasn't easy but thankfully I didn't fall completely back into my old ways and then I found someone I thought I would never find, never be worthy of. Sure I still fuck up and I'm not perfect but tell me someone who is?

No one thing changed my mindset but I will say CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) was probably a big part of it but it's not the one answer. I'll link you to the book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Change-Your-Thinking-CBT-Overcome/dp/0091906954

I'm not an expert but I have gone through some of the experiences you have. You may ignore this. You might just think I'm another weirdo out for himself but if you take anything from this please give cbt a try.

Let me know if you would like to hear anymore advice, if I don't hear from you I'll take it you think I'm not helping. Just know there will be better days than today.

Dave