D
Deleted member 1860
Hi all,
I have done both CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) and ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) in the past. I have found both of them to be helpful at various times.
My general perception is that CBT is about changing your thoughts whereas ACT is about accepting these thoughts and moving on without changing them. (Yes, perhaps oversimplified, but that's my general take on things)
So lately I've been struggling with a certain thought. I've been trying and trying and trying to use my CBT skills to battle these thoughts, with little success. I struggle with obsessive thinking, so telling my mind that it's wrong just makes my mind fight back harder, and the obsessive spiral continues. So today I reflected back on my ACT skills. I pretty much turned around, acknowledged these thoughts followed by giving them the proverbial finger. Yes, I was to that point! Low and behold, it worked! I'm finally OK with these thoughts! No changing them, no trying to change them. Just saying "hey, I know you're there, but I'm not going to pay attention to you anymore!)
My former ACT therapist told me that sometimes its better to fight, but sometimes its better NOT to fight. So that's what I did, I stopped fighting against these thoughts, I stopped trying to correct them. And it worked.
I know that CBT is generally thought of as helpful for PTSD, but there are times when we just need to change things up. Maybe in the future I'll be able to use my CBT skills on these thoughts, but for now, i'm OK. And, its in times like these that I'm actually grateful for having tried SO many different types of therapy (CBT, DBT, ACT, and so on and so forth) as I can draw on any of them at any given time.
Thanks for letting me share.
I have done both CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) and ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) in the past. I have found both of them to be helpful at various times.
My general perception is that CBT is about changing your thoughts whereas ACT is about accepting these thoughts and moving on without changing them. (Yes, perhaps oversimplified, but that's my general take on things)
So lately I've been struggling with a certain thought. I've been trying and trying and trying to use my CBT skills to battle these thoughts, with little success. I struggle with obsessive thinking, so telling my mind that it's wrong just makes my mind fight back harder, and the obsessive spiral continues. So today I reflected back on my ACT skills. I pretty much turned around, acknowledged these thoughts followed by giving them the proverbial finger. Yes, I was to that point! Low and behold, it worked! I'm finally OK with these thoughts! No changing them, no trying to change them. Just saying "hey, I know you're there, but I'm not going to pay attention to you anymore!)
My former ACT therapist told me that sometimes its better to fight, but sometimes its better NOT to fight. So that's what I did, I stopped fighting against these thoughts, I stopped trying to correct them. And it worked.
I know that CBT is generally thought of as helpful for PTSD, but there are times when we just need to change things up. Maybe in the future I'll be able to use my CBT skills on these thoughts, but for now, i'm OK. And, its in times like these that I'm actually grateful for having tried SO many different types of therapy (CBT, DBT, ACT, and so on and so forth) as I can draw on any of them at any given time.
Thanks for letting me share.
