CBT for Beginners by Jane Simmons & Rachel Griffiths

Author:Jane Simmons & Rachel Griffiths [Simmons, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9781446293195
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2013-12-10T05:00:00+00:00

Behavioural experiments (or tests)

Behavioural experiments can be seen as both cognitive and behavioural interventions. However, we have decided they fit best in the cognitive interventions section. Therefore, for a full explanation of behavioural experiments, please see page 153.

Activity monitoring and scheduling

Activity monitoring and scheduling can be very helpful for people who are depressed. It basically means helping someone to monitor their activities and plan in a schedule of activities. This is something that becomes extremely difficult for depressed people to do. Some of the main symptoms of depression include: tiredness, a lack of energy, lethargy, lack of motivation and general ‘lowness’. It is very hard for people who are depressed to think of doing more – how can you do more if you feel so tired? Depression is exceptionally powerful in making people feel as though they cannot do anything at all. As the lack of motivation increases, almost all tasks feel overwhelming to the extent where it feels safer to do nothing at all. As the depressed person does less, they start to have negative thoughts about themselves, leading to feelings of guilt and shame – this in turn makes them feel worse. Additionally, by doing less, they are usually cutting themselves off from things that might previously have given them pleasure and stimulation. For an example of a vicious cycle, see Figure 11.4. This is just the same as the maintenance cycles shown earlier but given here in a slightly different form, that is it goes round a couple of times.

This cycle could occur in lots of different forms, but the essential message is that the depressed person becomes trapped. They feel overwhelmed by small tasks and then criticise themselves for not doing anything, which makes them feel guilty and worthless, leading to further lethargic feelings. Many people compare the amount they are able to do now they are depressed with what they used to be able to do when they were feeling fine, which leads them to have negative thoughts such as ‘I should be able to do that, I used to be able to do so much more’, making them feel even more worthless.

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