Cognitive strategies for tackling depression
Cognitive behavioural treatments for depression usually involve a multi-pronged attack on the various maintaining factors we have just described. In the later stages of treatment, you may also find it helpful to target the core beliefs and assumptions that may have made you vulnerable to depression in the first place.
There are four main cognitive techniques for addressing depressed thinking styles:
- decentring yourself from your depressive thoughts
- distraction techniques to halt unhelpful rumination
- challenging cognitive distortions using thought records
- activating problem-solving skills to counteract feelings of helplessness.
1 Decentring yourself from your depressive thoughts
It all sounds a bit ...
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