During these tough times of the Corona Virus a growing number of people all over the world are experiencing heightened emotions of fear, anxiety and depression.
Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT is a useful method to help reduce emotional disturbances by systematically helping to change the way we think and behave in order to change how we feel.
When you examine your thoughts, you can begin to recognize how what you tell yourself and what you do impacts your mood.
For example, if you tell yourself that “this virus will never end and I will be stuck in my house or apartment forever,” you will likely feel a sense of hopelessness which can lead or worsen depression. If instead, you told yourself “This virus, although a major hassle is a temporary inconvenience that will likely end with a vaccine in the next year or so and then I can resume a more normal and safe routine”, you would feel far less depression.
If instead of watching or reading the news for hours during the day, you occupied your day by working on useful tasks connected with your work or home you would both distract yourself from worrisome thoughts and be able to think about the positive things you accomplished.
There was a book title written years ago that seems appropriate for these times called, “Tough times never last, tough people do”.
Cognitive behavior therapy teaches you how to become more resilient and to weather life’s storms more effectively.
