Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: What is it and How Can it Improve Your Mental Health?
The coronavirus pandemic has unsurprisingly affected many people in different ways, but for a vast majority, it has impacted their work life, personal relationships, and even their mental health.
Recent research has found that 63% of Brits have faced mental health issues amid the pandemic, with 59% struggling in lockdown having reached out for help, showing it is more important than ever to acknowledge when you may be struggling and use the tools and services around you for help.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy which teaches people how to identify and change negative and destructive thoughts patterns by helping them to deal with these overwhelming emotions in a positive way.
It is used to help people with various mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, by providing them with the tools and understanding to overcome these emotions and improve their overall wellbeing.
Here, Dr Juliet Anton, Chartered Psychologist and founder of new self-help app, AskDoc, shares her insights on how CBT can improve your mental health.
It is unfortunate to see so many people struggling with their mental health due to the pandemic, but it’s important they understand they are not alone and that there are professionals and therapies out there which can help.
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CBT can help replace disruptive thoughts with ones which are more positive and constructive to your life, so is an effective way to acknowledge how you’re feeling and change your thoughts patterns for the better. Some of the main benefits include:
1) Helps people to relax.
By learning how to understand our thoughts and process them in a more calm and relaxing manner, this can have an overall impact on how relaxed we feel as an individual and will in turn improve the way we cope in certain situations. CBT teaches people how to express themselves in a calmly manner and therefore provides them with the coping skills to tackle stressful situations head on.
2) Increases self-esteem.
For many people, low self-esteem is the foundation of their struggles. By focusing on the problems and changing the way we think and process these thoughts, this will help their self-esteem grow as they begin to understand the problem and have the belief in themselves that they can overcome it.
3) Improves communication.
CBT helps those struggling with mental health conditions to communicate their feelings more openly and with ease, removing any negative thoughts that they should feel embarrassed or ashamed. This can help to improve their communication with others and will allow them to maintain better relationships.
4) Helps people feel supported.
Knowing you have a support network around you and the understanding that you’re not alone is crucial for those suffering with a mental disorder. Whether you seek CBT from a medical professional, or turn to self-help apps such as AskDoc, there is always someone there to help you and ensure you always feel supported on your journey to recovery.
So, there you have it, a look at some of the benefits to CBT and why those struggling with a mental health condition should consider exploring this as a therapy option and see if it’s the right solution for them.
The AskDoc app is available to download for free through the Apple Store (for iPhone) and Google Play (for Android), with access to specialist courses from an expert psychologist, starting from just £5.