Benefits of CBT
By
Life has a way of instilling habits and thought patterns that can be limiting or self-damaging. It isn't uncommon for individual generational cycles to be passed down through no fault of one's own. If a parent is known to engage in child/spousal, sexual, or drug abuse, it is very likely for their children to repeat those behaviors due to the normalcy of it in their worlds. Someone will not change unless they see a reason to and want to, but even consciously acknowledging the need to change doesn't always prove enough to change thinking patterns and responses. This instance is where the benefits of
Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT) can come into play.
What is CBT?
Generally speaking, CBT is a term covering a variety of therapies that focus on internal thought processes and the role that self-awareness has on a person's thoughts and emotions; thus, the resulting actions.What Are Some Benefits of CBT?
The National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists has declared the benefits of CBT to be: Cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on the idea that our thoughts cause our feelings and behaviors, not external things, like people, situations, and events. The benefit of this fact is that we can change the way we think to feel/act better even if the situation does not change. CBT can result in:- Catching negative thoughts/emotions;
- Preventing relapse;
- Managing anger;
- Managing chronic pain;
- Coping with grief/loss;
- Recovering from trauma and PTSD;
- Overcoming sleeping disorders; and
- Resolving relationship issues.
How to Experience the Benefits of CBT
Michelle Patterson, Ph.D., has offered some simple forms of personal interventions to apply principles of CBT from home.- Set realistic goals. Don't overestimate short-term results.
- Learn to manage stress and anxiety. Adopt relaxation and breathing techniques or positive self-talk.
- Learn to face undesired situations. Often, this is social anxiety, and understanding networking may ease avoiding many scenarios due to feelings of discomfort.
- Take up a hobby. Engaging in a shared interest with others can help with recovering from past pains.
- Journal. Monitor thoughts, feelings, and reactions. Taking note of such things makes it easier to identify the beginning of a habit or pattern in real-time, which can allow the freedom of choice on how to react.
.jpg)
