Reddit reviews Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks: A Workbook for Managing Depression and Anxiety

Thank you ☺️

And absolutely! I bought this book:
Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive... https://www.amazon.com/dp/1623157803?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I actually think I found it through someone else on this sub. It breaks down CBT in a way that allows you to “be your own therapist.” It guides you through 7 weeks the same way a therapist would: how does anxiety/depression affect X area of your life, what are your values, what are your goals for the next 7 weeks across all areas of life, track your activities/their importance/your enjoyment level, etc.

I’m only on week 2, but already I can see a difference in how I react to my anxious thoughts. At first I didn’t think the book would be right for me. A lot of the examples given are simplistic, more geared toward people with specific phobias, not GAD/panic disorder, etc. but once I got deeper into it I realized that it’s actually a great place to be honest with yourself and confront your anxiety in a non-intimidating way.

I would definitely recommend it!

maybe you should try meditating? it takes some time getting used to but it should help you clear your mind. there are lots of apps for smartphones with guided mediations that are free.

another thing i can recommend is trying to do some at home CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) - there are loads of books online like this one and websites that can teach you basic ways to change your thought patterns as long as you're committed to it. ideally though, i think therapy would be a good idea, but i understand most students can't afford it :(

It sounds like you feel completely trapped and helpless, which is definitely a huge component of depression. I've been there, and it sucks. It feels like it's impossible to do anything to make your situation better because you don't have the energy or motivation, right?

Honestly the best thing you can do is get treatment for your depression - that's the major thing blocking you from making any changes right now. Are you seeking any treatment already? I don't know your situation or your parents, but the best solution would be to go to your doctor, start experimenting with meds to see if they help, and find a therapist to talk to. Failing that, use online therapy, or buy a CBT workbook, or even get one from the library. There's even a few great websites for CBT like https://moodgym.com.au.

Something clearly needs to change, and I really believe your depression is at the crux of all these issues. It's almost impossible to make other changes until your mental health improves. Good luck, and stay safe on your trip!

It makes sense. I think you had good intentions: staying busy and working hard. It's just there's a balance. And while a good distraction here and there might be nice, you don't want to avoid the proper dialogues you need to have with yourself.

I'm a big fan of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Instead of tracing things back to the source, it focuses on what to do in the moment when triggers flare. I like the book Retrain Your Brain because it goes through the CBT stuff in an easy to read and digest manner. Not too theoretical. Each chapter had me nodding with how it made sense. See if your library has a copy.

If you're a more auditory learner, try listening to one of Noah Elkrief's videos. I'll link this one How to Forgive Yourself.

I'm usually wary of any life coachy type of talk, and Noah doesn't seem to have and therapist credentials. That said, if you listen to a few of his videos, he seems to ask the right questions. And you'll notice he repeats certain themes a lot... Because those are the questions you need to ask yourself.

Good luck!

Self-help CBT books have been shown to be as effective as thousands of dollars of visits with a therapist. As long as a person commits and does the exercises, it can really change things around.

In addition to seconding your book rec, I'd recommend also "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks" by Seth Gillihan, and "Mind Over Mood" by Greenbereger and Padesky. Also "Rewire Your Anxious Brain."

I bought this for my sister a little ways back.

https://www.amazon.com/Retrain-Your-Brain-Behavioral-Depression/dp/1623157803/

Happy to! It's "Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks."
Amazon UK;
Amazon US (Holy shit, so expensive for some reason?!).

https://www.amazon.com/Retrain-Your-Brain-Behavioral-Depression/dp/1623157803/

I don’t know your severity but I could recommend some workbooks to help, here’s one that has pretty good reviews online.

I always like to tell people that a therapist could be anyone/anything, not to downplay all of their hard work and dedication but in the very simplest form all they really did was study books that are available to you as well - you have the same capabilities to help yourself but it will take some time and work

Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks: A Workbook for Managing Depression and Anxiety

There are some books on amazon about CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). It is about your thoughts which produce an emotion regarding a situation.

Soyou have to "reframe" your thinking in a way to free yourself from those intrusive thoughts.

The good part is that it not only works for one specific mind frame or set of thoughts, you can use it to cope with jealousy issues, anxiety,insecurity, phobias, etc.

You should give it a shot ;)

https://www.amazon.com/Retrain-Your-Brain-Behavioral-Depression/dp/1623157803/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1485722758&sr=8-5&keywords=cbt