I am back with a new login name and outlook. Regarding my decision to join the program in the first place: I have suffered depression most of my adult life and probably longer. I do know that CBT works having been prescribed these types of exercises by my family doctor. The first time about was 15 years ago now and if it didn't work I would have abondoned this for some other form of therapy a long, long time ago.
This type of therapy also helped me through a near death experience and the death of my partner 10 years ago. I suffered PSTD and crippling depression as a result. During that time I required anit-depressants which made things worse as I was already self medicating. I got through the worst of it with the help of the same family doctor and more than one mental health practitioner (psychologists and psychiatrists).
Since then I have felt that I am just treating my low periods and never rising above the surface to claim a full life. I truly hope this program and the associated group discussions will be the lever I have been searching for.
What you are considering would definitely take courage. You are right to wonder if it is worth it to lay it all out there. There are going to be benefits to confiding in certain people and a definite cost to presenting yourself this way to others.
I have people at my work for instance who would probably pee themselves laughing if they knew about my depression. Some of this is just because they are from a different genereation (there were still "Hospitals for the Idiotic" in their day), but some is the opposite; they are too immmature to understand and empathize with others.
But the thing about people is - and this is a fact: they believe what they want about you. If their perception of you now is that you are weak, then telling them that you suffer from depression is going to confirm that for them. If they think you are lazy - same thing; you came up with a lovely diagnosis for yourself to get out of work.
I wish you well and that whatever course you take is filled with as few simple minded people as possible.
I am starting the program over from session 1. My previous experience with the program was positive, but ended up so much like my previous attempts at therapy, counselling etc: I went too long between sessions with too little of the homework completed.
I get overwhelmed easily so I am taking it slow this time and making sure not to rush into the next session. I have a question: am I supposed to have access to the daily mood log after session 1? I only see the activity log and do not want to jump into session 2 until I am supposed to be done with session 1.
Note: You won't be able to do anything when these first open in your browser window (Internet Exploer or Chrome or Firefox, Opera etc..). To do what monocle suggests, you first have to save a copy to a folder on your computer then open the copy in Adobe Reader before you can sign and then add text.
It sounds a little complicated but much better than running around with a binder full of your personal thoughts etc...
Well I have been off for a while and not really started anything yet. This is my first real day back looking at the program and I am willing myself to do one of the exercises. I have only completed step 1 so I think there aren't many tools unlocked yet.
Yes that's exactly what I was looking for. I am happy to report that I did this today. Not much of an achievement, I realize, but still. Now on to the next task.
HM
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