I’ve been struggling with depression for a long time, so I decided to start Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). It’s given me some helpful tools and strategies to deal with my thoughts and feelings.
I started by journaling every day. Writing down how I was feeling allowed me to become aware of my patterns in thinking and behaviour when dealing with difficult situations. This practice has made it easier for me to identify negative thought patterns that may be getting in the way of me achieving my goals or enjoying life.
The next step was learning different techniques I could use if things got really tough. Being able to think about the situation differently helped to shift my mindset from a negative one, where everything seemed terrible, to a more balanced perspective on life. This gave me hope and slowly helped me cope better with stressors in my life.
One of the biggest lessons I learned is that it’s not always possible or even healthy for me try and control what’s happening around me – what matters is whether I take care of myself mentally and emotionally within each moment. Instead of expecting perfection from myself, I strive for improvement every day by taking small steps towards my goals.
CBT has also had a big impact on my relationships with people in my life as well as strengthening the relationship with myself - knowing that everything doesn’t need to be perfect all the time has helped boost my confidence!
Overall, CBT has provided me with invaluable insight into both myself and how I relate to others; something which will stay with me throughout the rest of my journey towards better mental health.