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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Saved My Life

How did I beat severe anxiety and depression? How did I lose seventy pounds? How did I take my destiny into my own hands and save my life? Of course the answer is complicated but the first step is not. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a fairly simple process that transformed the way that I think. Over the course of six months, I learned how to eliminate poisonous, debilitating thoughts from my mind. I ended a lifetime of crushing fear and began a new life of freedom, peace, and joy. Now I am going to teach you how you can do the same.

(Scroll down to the bottom if you are interested in some back story.) After several years out of therapy (reliant on medication) I decided to return. My therapist was an angel. She told me that I was suffering from anxiety and depression and that it was very treatable. I thought that she was insane. It just could not be that simple or logical. I had been depressed and suicidal forever. Things had gotten so bad that sometimes I lost touch with reality. When she told me that I could get better and that it was only a matter of changing my thought processes, I nearly walked out of her office. I knew that I was screwed up, perhaps schizophrenic, definitely a lost cause.

Today, I know that I was very wrong and she was very right. My depression was severe but it was a direct result of negative, irrational thoughts. My anxiety was also severe (so severe that it caused me to disassociate at times) but it too was a direct result of negative, irrational thoughts. Though I had tried CBT years earlier, this time it would be different. This time it would save me.

Every single person experiences negative, irrational thoughts to some degree. But what varies from person to person is the frequency and the intensity of these thoughts. If you are reading this post because you want help, there is a good chance that negative, irrational thoughts are destroying your life. You will change that. If you are reading this post because you want to fill your life with joy and eliminate pain, you will achieve that. Taking control of your thoughts will enable you to obtain emotional freedom and to live a life of peace and joy.

“The present moment is the still point around which the universe arises and subsides, only to be reborn again, fresh as a new born child.” —Deepak Chopra

CBT means something different to every therapist, to every person that practices it, and to every person that studies it. If you do a quick search you will find countless articles on CBT. It can really get quite overwhelming. I am going to ask that you don’t go there. For me, CBT is extremely simple and extremely powerful. Simply put, CBT is changing your negative, irrational thoughts into positive, rational thoughts. Here’s how you do it.

Recognize and Admit
First, you have to recognize two types of thoughts: negative-irrational and positive-rational. Here are some examples.

Negative-irrational:
a. It is raining out this morning. I am definitely going to have a bad day.
b. My parents are on the verge of losing their house. This is all my fault. I should have never been born.
c. That guy just hit my bumper. Just my luck. I can’t afford this. I’m going to be late for work. I’m going to get fired. Bad things always happen to me. I am doomed.

Positive-rational:
a. It is raining out this morning. Good thing, the flowers really need the water.
b. I am sad about my parents financial situation. I am grateful that I have been such a good daughter. I will give them love and support but I will also recognize that their problems are not my own.
c. That guy just hit my bumper. Thank God I am not hurt and we were both doing the speed limit. This could have been a lot worse.

Negative thoughts like the ones above might not be debilitating but when a person becomes consumed by such thoughts, mental illness thrives. When I was suffering from depression and anxiety, I had no idea that 99% of the thoughts passing through my mind were negative and irrational. I had been living unconsciously for so long and because it was all I ever knew, I didn’t know that there was something wrong with it. I thought that it was normal. Meanwhile, my mind and my thoughts were killing me slowly.

Once you have recognized these two thought types you have to admit that you experience them both. You have to admit to what degree you practice negative, irrational (NI) thinking. To what degree are your thoughts NI? Do you have a NI thought once or twice a day or are the majority of thoughts that pass through your mind NI? Admit the truth to yourself, next you will deal with it.

Change by Practice
I was not going to be so easily convinced. Yes I was anxious and depressed but I was not sure that changing my thoughts was going to fix anything and even if it would I wasn’t sure that I would be able to do it. My therapist gave me homework and I am about to give you some. Pay attention here, this is the single most important step to initiate CBT. These are the actions that will change your life:

*Every time you start to feel anxious or depressed, write down the thoughts that pass through your mind.

*Later, analyze these thoughts. How many of them are NI? Change the NI thoughts into positive, rational ones. Write down the positive rational ones.

*If you want to eliminate poisonous, debilitating thoughts from your life, you must do this every single day until it becomes automatic.

Automatic Positive, Rational Thoughts
I remember the first time that I automatically converted a NI thought to a positive, rational one. After months of writing my thoughts down on paper and changing them later, one day it happened automatically. I was on a walk through a forest and suddenly overcome by a sense of doom, panic set in. Something terrible is going to happen, I started but then I stopped myself, No. I am on a walk. It is a beautiful day. I am safe, happy, healthy. And that was how it started, that was when my life began to change.

With time, patience, and practice it gets easier and easier. One day you will wake up and find yourself automatically changing your NI thoughts into positive, rational ones. You will have taken back control of your mind. It really is that simple. My story can be your story. Most people have no idea what an impact the human mind has. We can not conceive that negative thought processes are capable of ruining our lives, our spirits, and our bodies — but they are! With CBT you will stop the cycle.

“As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence actually liberates others.” —Marianne Williamson

Your life of freedom, peace, and joy is waiting for you. Get on the path. Begin your journey now.

Back story: Until CBT, I suffered from mental illness my entire life. From the time I was a girl, I endured anxiety and crippling panic attacks. One example is the year that I developed a terrible preoccupation with my younger sister. I had to know where she was at all times. If I could not get to her I would become hysterical, convinced that something tragic had happened. Later in life I became depressed. Through my adolescence suicidal thoughts were a constant. I wrote pages and pages of poetry on the subjects of blood and tears. In elementary school I became significantly overweight. These problems worsened as I got older. During my junior year as an undergraduate, I decided that something needed to change.

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    3 Simple Changes That Will Save Your Life

    This post could save your life. These 3 simple lifestyle changes saved mine. Today I am going to simply share facts with you. These facts (if you let them) will dramatically improve your quality of life. Making these changes can even increase your life span.

    1. Stop Smoking

    FACTS: According to the American Heart Association, cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the United States, accounting for 440,000 of the more than 2.4 million annual deaths.

    Cigarette smoking causes lung cancer. In fact, smoking tobacco is the major risk factor for lung cancer. In the United States, about 90% of lung cancer deaths in men and almost 80% of lung cancer deaths in women are due to smoking. People who smoke are 10 to 20 times more likely to get lung cancer or die from lung cancer than people who do not smoke. The longer a person smokes and the more cigarettes smoked each day, the more risk goes up.

    Smoking also causes cancer of the voice box (larynx), mouth and throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, and stomach, and causes acute myeloid leukemia. Source.

    FACTS: One year after passing smoking bans, communities in North America and Europe had 17 percent fewer heart attacks compared to communities without smoking restrictions, and the number of heart attacks kept decreasing with time, according to a report in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. Source.

    FACTS: If you quit smoking, you will:

    1. Prolong your life. According to the American Heart Association, smokers who quit between ages 35-39 add an average of 6-9 years to their lives. Smokers who quit between ages 65-69 increase their life expectancy by 1 – 4 years.

    2. Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Quitting smoking reduces the risk of repeat heart attacks and death from heart disease by 50 percent or more. Quitting smoking also reduces your risk of high blood pressure, peripheral artery disease and stroke.

    3. Reduce your risk of developing a variety of other conditions including diabetes, lung cancer, throat cancer, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, chronic asthma, ulcers, gum disease and many other conditions.

    4. Feel healthier. After quitting, you won’t cough as much, have as many sore throats and you will increase your energy.

    5. Look and feel better. Quitting can help you prevent face wrinkles, get rid of stained teeth, improve your skin and even get rid of the stale smell in your clothes and hair.

    6. Improve your sense of taste and smell.

    7. Save money. Source.

    FACTS: What Happens When You Quit:

    After 20 minutes
    o You stop polluting the air
    o Your blood pressure and pulse decrease
    o The temperature of your hands and feet increases

    After 8 hours
    o The carbon monoxide level in your blood returns to normal
    o Oxygen levels in your blood increase

    After 24 hours
    o Your risk of heart attack decreases

    After 48 hours
    o Nerve endings adjust to the absence of nicotine
    o Your ability to taste and smell begin to return

    After 2 weeks to 3 months
    o Your circulation improves
    o Your exercise tolerance improves

    After 1 – 9 months
    o Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease
    o Your overall energy level increases

    After 1 year
    o Your risk of heart disease decreases to half that of a current smoker

    After 5 – 15 years
    o Your risk of stroke is reduced to that of people who have never smoked

    After 10 years
    o Your risk of dying from lung cancer drops to almost the same rate as a lifelong non- smoker
    o You decrease the incidence of other cancers — of the mouth, larynx, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas

    After 15 years
    o Your risk of heart disease is reduced to that of people who have never smoked

    If you smoke again (called a relapse) do not lose hope. Seventy-five percent of those who quit relapse. Most smokers quit three times before they are successful. If you relapse, don’t give up! Review the reasons why you wanted to become a nonsmoker. Plan ahead and think about what you will do next time you get the urge to smoke. Source.

    2. Maintain a Healthy Body Weight

    QUESTION: How many people get cancer by being overweight or obese? How many die?

    FACTS: In 2002, about 41,000 new cases of cancer in the United States were estimated to be due to obesity. This means that about 3.2 percent of all new cancers are linked to obesity.

    A recent report estimated that, in the United States, 14 percent of deaths from cancer in men and 20 percent of deaths in women were due to overweight and obesity.

    Colon cancer occurs more frequently in people who are obese than in those of a healthy weight. An increased risk of colon cancer has been consistently reported for men with high BMIs.
    Source.

    FACTS: Research has shown that as weight increases to reach the levels referred to as “overweight” and “obesity,” the risks for the following conditions also increases:

    * Coronary heart disease
    * Type 2 diabetes
    * Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
    * Hypertension (high blood pressure)
    * Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
    * Stroke
    * Liver and Gallbladder disease
    * Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
    * Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
    * Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility) Source.

    3. Eat Whole Foods, Not Processed

    FACTS: The statistics are alarming:

    – One in three people will get cancer at some time in their life

    – Heart disease is the leading cause of death

    – Poor nutrition and physical inactivity together are the second
    actual cause of preventable death in the United States

    On the other hand new evidence shows that:

    – Eating five or more fruits and vegetables per day cuts cancer
    risk in half

    – People who eat more fruits and vegetables have a 30% lower risk
    of premature heart attack than people who eat a few

    – About 25% fewer strokes are projected for adults who eat 8 or
    more servings of fruits and vegetables per day

    – Fruits and vegetables may help keep blood sugar down and control diabetes.” Source.

    FACTS: Processed meat consumption results in 67% increase in pancreatic cancer risk.
    Source.

    FACTS: Inorganic phosphates are found in a variety of processed foods, including meats, cheeses, beverages and bakery products. They are added to increase water retention and improve food texture. Studies suggests a diet high in inorganic phosphates could speed growth of cancerous tumors and contribute to the development of tumors in those predisposed to the disease. Source.

    FACTS: Carcinogens in foods that may be naturally-occurring, caused by preparing or cooking certain foods, or added to it, include safrole, estragole and benzene. Processed foods such as sausages, bacon and canned meats contain high amounts of the preservative nitrite, another known carcinogen. Other carcinogens to look for in food products include:

    * acetaldehyde
    * acetamide
    * azo color and compounds
    * benzidine
    * bis (2-Chloromethyl) ether
    * cadmium
    * chlorinated parraffin waxes
    * 3,3-dichlorobenzidine
    * dichloromethane
    * hexachlorobenzene
    * polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
    * polychlorinated dibenzodioxins
    * polychlorinated dibenzofurans
    * sillica
    * trichloroethylene

    Though it is impossible to avoid every known carcinogen, to decrease risk of cancers and other illnesses, a balanced diet with more unprocessed, whole foods can decrease risk of some cancers and other diseases such as type two diabetes and heart disease. Source.

    FACTS: Nutrients in Whole Foods that Protect Against Cancer:

    1. Vitamin A: Strengthens the immune system. Essential for mineral metabolism and endocrine function. Helps detoxify. True vitamin A is found only in animal foods such as cod liver oil; fish and shellfish; and liver, butter and egg yolks from pasture-fed animals. Traditional diets contained ten times more vitamin A than the typical modern American diet.

    2. Vitamin C: An important antioxidant that prevents damage by free radicals. Found in many fruits and vegetables but also in certain organ meats valued by primitive peoples.

    3. Vitamin B6: Deficiencies are associated with cancer. Contributes to the function of over 100 enzymes. Most available from animal foods.

    4. Vitamin B12: Deficiencies are associated with cancer. Found only in animal foods.

    5. Vitamin B17: Protects against cancer. Found in a variety of organically grown grains, legumes, nuts and berries.

    6. Vitamin D: Required for mineral absorption. Strongly protective against breast and colon cancer. Found only in animal foods such as cod liver oil, lard, shellfish and butterfat, organ meats and egg yolks from grass-fed animals. Traditional diets contained ten times more vitamin D than the typical modern American diet.

    7. Vitamin E: Works as an antioxidant at the cellular level. Found in unprocessed oils as well as in animal fats like butter and egg yolks.

    8. Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): Strongly protective against breast cancer. Found in the butterfat and meat fat of grass-fed ruminant animals.

    9. Cholesterol: A potent antioxidant that protects against free radicals in cell membranes. Found only in animal foods.

    10. Minerals: The body needs generous amounts of a wide variety of minerals to protect itself against cancer. Minerals like zinc, magnesium and selenium are vital components of enzymes that help the body fight carcinogens. Minerals are more easily absorbed from animal foods.

    11. Lactic Acid and Friendly Bacteria: Contribute to the health of the digestive tract. Found in old fashioned lacto-fermented foods.

    12. Saturated Fats: Strengthen the immune system. Needed for proper use of the essential fatty acids. The lungs cannot function without saturated fats. Found mostly in animal foods.

    13. Long-Chain Fatty Acids: Arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) help fight cancer on the cellular level. They are found mostly in animal foods such as butter, organ meats, cod liver oil and seafood.

    14. Co-enzyme Q10: Highly protective against cancer. Found only in animal foods. Source.

    In closing: I truly hope that you will begin living these simple lifestyle changes. If you are non-smoker, not obese, and already eating whole foods, then I challenge you to help to spread this message to as many people as you can. All of the suffering and the disease mentioned above is not necessary. It can be prevented.

35 Comments

  1. I have been reading your blog and I have to say that you are a special person with a lot to offer. Thanks so much for sharing your story; it has helped me so much!

    I am a recovering alcoholic (I came to this site from Jared's). I was in serious emotional pain and I was empty inside. I knew that something had to change BUT I didn't know how or what to do. For me, I first had to removed the alcohol and give my mind, heart and soul time to heal. It was almost 10 months ago since my last drink. I also joined a website/forum that helped me sober up by reading about how others beat alcoholism and I shared my story as well. That place saved my life. Those two actions – stopping drinking and taking time to heal – gave me the opportunity to see everything in a different light. The door was now opened and I knew now that I needed to explore. So I went out on the web looking for other resources and hence here I am.

    I don't know if I was depressed and drank to relieve that OR if my drinking made me that way (chicken / egg). This question used to scare me because I didn't want to be "depressed." But now it doesn't matter so much because I am no longer consumed with how bad I feel and why. I took action (quit drinking and looked for helped) and it is all starting to pay-off. I am becoming calm and serene and I know now that alcohol is not good for me; it guts my core. I now also know that I don't have to feel bad (think negatively). I am in control of my thoughts / moods / emotions / feels AND perceptions if I allow myself to be. This is so freeing and I am becoming happier than I thought I could ever be.

    You helped me in my transformation and I just wanted to say thanks!

    mk

    Reply

  2. @mk – I can not tell you how much it means to me to know that my words and thoughts meant something to you. I am so proud of you for coming this far in your journey. Keep up the amazing work. I will keep you in my thoughts and send you love and positivity from afar.

    Reply

  3. I know its been a while since you posted this, but thanks for doing so.

    Only just recently have I realised that the treatment I had been receiving was CBT ( we just never discussed the name in our sessions )

    I think you have explained it really well, so well in fact that I have bookmarked this post so that I can keep refering back to it.

    Regards
    Greg

    Reply

  4. @Greg – I am so happy that my explanation of CBT has helped you in some way. CBT is ruly a revolutionary method for treating all sorts of problems. It is a light in the dark so to speak.

    I hope that the treatment continues to help you on your path. I am wishing you light, love, & happiness.

    Thank you for visiting Evolution!

    Reply

  5. Dena, you rock. You are beautiful!

    I have a similar story (depression, identity issues), and the path to health that you discuss was absolutely instrumental for me.

    I did not have all of this great language to help me at the time. It must have been a sub-conscious pulling toward being the ultimate Me.

    Thanks for standing on this message. It is VERY powerful and will spark and light many people's lives!

    Reply

  6. @Grant – Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your own inspirational story. I am headed over to your site now.

    Thanks again!

    Reply
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  14. Ive been on medication without therapy for the past two years due to a reoccurance of depression and anxiety.  The medication has helped me realise that Ive suffered anxiety my entire life and never knew it wasnt normal.  Ive started seeing a CBT and trying to keep a mood diary but Im not really sure what my mood is, apart from probably unattached.  Im looking forward to getting off the meds and handling life normally.  I dont have irrational thinking, but I do worry a lot. Thank you for your article.

    Reply
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  16. Hi Dena, Your personal account in overcoming severe anxiety is inspirational. If you remember, how long did it take to begin to notice a difference in your symptoms?

    Reply

    1. Hi Daisy. Thank you so much for your comment. When I started practicing CBT it took a few months for me to notice tangible results. Within six months, my mind started to rapidly transform. You can read more about the journey in my book: http://evolutionyou.net/book/

      xo

      Reply

  17. I have a question – did you find you had to keep writing the same fears down until they disappeared? I’m doing something similar, and finding I’m having to write down and rationalize some of the same old stuff. Just wondering when it will start to sink in.

    Reply

  18. OMG it sounds like me. I’m 43 and been having trouble since I was 14yr. I’m all but exhausted with trying to get myself out of this emotional rollercoaster. I have an 8yr son, and 6yr daughter. Sometimes I don’t know if I’ll be around another year living like that. Will get your ebook! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  19. Hi Dena ive been battling anxiety and depression for a few years now but always thinking it was normal and was to scared to do anything about it, had a bad turn a few days ago told a friend about it and she told me to check your page out. Had a read and feeling soooo much relive that you were going through the same things and that you can actually change it makes me so happy. I see my first psychologist next week 🙂 cant wait to change my life

    Reply

    1. Hi Ryan! Thanks for stopping by. I am thrilled for you. You are about to experience some extraordinary, positive change. Best of luck on your journey!!

      Reply

  20. I just found your article today. I have been lost in anxiety and depression for over 10 years now. I appreciate your post and your explaination of CBT. I am working with a counselor now but what you described has enlightened me. It is hard to believe that 10 years have been impacted by negative thinking. I am going to change that. I think my biggest obstacle is realizing it takes time. Thank you!

    Reply

  21. Dear Dena,

    I was indeed scrolling through the disorder and CBT pages and feeling overwhelmed before coming across this post of yours! Thank you so much for writing this, being so honest in sharing your experiences and giving advice and guidance! I feel much better already after merely reading this short post, even without doing anything:) Am much more clear about what I need to do now to live a fuller life :>

    Reply

  22. Hi Dena,

    Just want to say a massive thank you for sharing this article. I’ve been in and out of CBT therapy for about 3 years now, and apart from a few rare glimpses of normality I’ve never really felt any benefits as Ive always ended up confused and overwhelmed followed by giving up. You have helped to make me see it so simple and from this moment I will start practicing the basics again. I never thought a stranger would have such an impact on my life! Thanks again.

    Reply

  23. Hi.. I’m so thankfull today because I found your article, read it step by step… and it is like wake me up from some situation I use to do. Thank you so much! I’ll learn to think positive from now on.. God bless! 😉

    Reply

  24. I have a severe health anxiety. A symptom that seems normal to others is always something serious for me. Though I know that my fears are irrational , they come again and again to haunt me. I hesitate to tell my parents to take me to a psychiatrist. Please help. What to do???? Its is ruining me

    Reply

    1. I don’t know enough about your situation to give you good advice. However, there are almost always mental health services available to students through their educators if you are in school. If you are not, then local county offices should be able to point you in the right direction. I am sending you prayers that you can get the help that you need, friend. Best wishes.

      Reply

    2. Dear Navneet, please do:) I struggled with health anxiety too and unfortunately, did not seek help for it- to the detriment of my studies and work! Looking back, my problems could have been solved much earlier had I just sought help from the start and saved myself all the grief and trouble! It’s really alienating to have everything simmer underneath, feeling alone in having an extra burden of worries, nerves and chaotic fears no one else seems to be afflicted by. I would like to encourage you to grit your teeth and go for a counselling/psychotherapy session.

      I’m not that sure about psychiatrists though- where I’m from, they are more inclined towards dispensing drugs and medications so I would recommend a therapy session first! Drugs shouldn’t be your first course of action, though they’re fine if along the course of treatment you and your therapist decide that they would be a good supplement and make an informed decision! If you do decide to go through with a psychiatrist, gotta do some reading up and research beforehand.

      Reply
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  28. Hi,

    Such a great article.

    I’m wondering with the tracking of negative thoughts, how soon after you have tracked all your NI’s would you sit down and address them?

    For example is this something you would do at the end of the day?

    Reply

    1. Hi Sascha, Yes. Doing this at the end of each day is a great idea. That is how I used to do it. Best of luck to you. If you have any more questions feel free to message me on Instagram @denajoan.

      Reply

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