book for depression

 for anyone who has issues with depression, I have been reading The Happiness Trap, which is great.  an easy beginners guide to A.C.T.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acceptance_and_commitment_therapy





www.amazon.com/Happiness-Trap-Struggling-Start-Living/dp/1590305841/ref=sr_1_1

 my chromebook is great but doesn't like to make long posts, so this is continued. I am working my way through the book. there are tons of details, here are the 6 principals.

1. defusion -  learn to defuse painful feelings and they won't stress you as much. learn to defuse unhelpful thoughts (like harsh criticism) and they have less influence on your behavior.

2. expansion - making room for unpleasant feelings instead of trying to supress them

3. connection - living in the moment, rather than in the past or future  (OMMMMMMMMMM)

4. the observing self - I don't know what this means, yet.   guess you observe, prolly without judgement

5. values - figure out yours!

6. committed action  - take action but it has to be based on your values. keep taking it, over & over

 part 3 of the same post!  should get you enough of the flavor of the book to see if you are interested.

three techniques to try for defusion (the opposite of fusion, where you see your every thought as "true") the idea is to distance yourself from uncomfortable thoughts and see them for what they are just words going through your head.

1. "I'm having the thought that"   if you are thinking something that makes you feel bad, say, I'm over ate again! I'm always doing that!  phrase it this way

I'm having the thought that I always over eat 
or even
I notice I'm having the thought that I always over eat.


2. musical thoughts - set that thought to a silly tune in your head like jingle bells or happy birthday
   (happy birthday)
I always over eat
I always over eat
I ALLways over eeeeeeeeeeeeeat.......I always over eat!


3. Name That Story

thoughts are stories you are always telling yourself, give it a name. 

ah, there is the I Always Overeat Story, again.

where these techniques differ from most self help techniques, you don't try to replace these thoughts with something positive. you don't fight them, in other words.

Thanks for mentioning this book. Many obese people have this issue (I wonder which comes first - the depression or the obesity) but there seems to be a connection. My surgeon said a pretty high percentage of his patients are on antidepressants.  Anyway, it seems to make some good points. Another good one is "Feeling Good". Forget the author but its a cognitive approach.  Diane

 I think mood issues are rampant in our society at the same time obesity it but not sure of the connection. could be that poor food quality and not enough physical exercise just leads to both.

yes, tons of good books out there. I have a bit of an addiction to self help books in general.

love anything by Richard O'Connor
I have both Undoing Depression and Undoing Perpetual Stress and recommend them as well.


www.undoingdepression.com/

Thanks so much Jackie, I will check it out....

Or I plan too :)  You know how it is...

Hugs,

Cindy

 Cindy

there are tons of good, helpful books out there and that is just an example.  whatever helps you is good!  coming here every day, getting outside, anything.

hugs!
Jackie

do you have a library? if so, go there