Mental health issues like depression or anxiety can be caused by a variety of factors including current life events, past trauma, genetics, and medical problems such as a thyroid dysfunction, etc. There are a variety of treatment approaches to address either of these issues but Aaron Beck and his colleagues presented a method called “Cognitive Behavioral Treatment”.

 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a therapeutic approach that focuses on changing cognitions (thoughts) which will then result in changes in feelings and behaviors. Specifically, the Cognitive Behavioral approach begins with the notion that after an (A) Action, one has a (B) Belief or thought about that action, and then an emotional (C) Consequence – the ABC Theory. In order then to change emotions, one then needs to change the thoughts that precede the emotion.

 

For example, you are waiting in line at the grocery store (the action = A). You tell yourself things like “I am going to be late for dinner” or “I am wasting my time here when I could be doing something more productive” (the belief = B). The resulting emotional consequence (= C) is most likely a feeling of impatience or anxiety. However, if you change your belief then you would change the emotion. For example, you could decide that this is a great opportunity to complete your weekly dinner planning or read that great article on some famous movie star’s alien baby!!!

 

So how does this relate to depression or anxiety”? Depression is often exacerbated by thoughts or beliefs that are either not very rational or not helpful. It is possible to “dispute” these thoughts and change them to a more helpful approach. In doing so, you then change the feelings caused by the beliefs. Obviously, this is not a simple task. Anxiety can be approached in much the same way, thoughts and beliefs can be confronted and changed.

 

For more information, I strongly recommend “The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook” by Edmund Bourne.