If you are suffering from anxiety or depression, you know how hard it can be to begin therapy. Sometimes the mere thought of leaving the home can be so overwhelming that an appointment isn't made with a counselor. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is a modality that is used to help treat anxiety and depression, but you must be able to physically get to your therapist's office in order to begin treatment. Medication is often used to help people get out of crisis. In conjunction with CBT treatment, medication can help you get from a fear-based existence to one in which you are able to cope much more effectively.
Medications When You are In Crisis
It can be very difficult for a person to admit they need medication to treat mental health, and this is unfortunate. The same person who is going to accept medication for a muscle spasm will be hesitant to take medication that is going to allow treatment for anxiety or depression to move forward. Medications used for anxiety or depression can be short acting, such as benzodiazepines, or longer acting, such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs. Your doctor will determine which medication will be the most effective in order for you to begin participating in CBT treatments with a qualified therapists.
Changing Your Destructive Thoughts
How you think about the world around you has a direct impact on your overall well-being. For example, when faced with a problem, do you immediately begin seeing all of the road blocks in your way? CBT teaches you how to react in a more positive way to outside events, giving you the tools you need to succeed. Thoughts are important, and changing thought patterns is the goal of CBT. When new thought patterns begin to emerge, you will see how effective CBT can be.
How CBT Can Work for You
If you are an anxious person, do you feel overwhelmed all of the time? CBT helps you take your life one step at a time, to focus on the moment and put your life into perspective. While taking a look at the big picture is useful at times, always worrying about the future is debilitating. CBT will help you stay in the moment, and deal with the task at hand. You will be better prepared for your next challenge when you are able to stay in the moment.
For more information about types of counseling that may help you, contact a local office.
