| I have spent my 38 years in Psychiatry trying to | | | | In fact this will help us define depression. The circle |
| organize terms that seem obvious. Unfortunately they | | | | may become so tight that we do not respond as |
| are not. | | | | before to any situation. Our mood has worsened. We |
| There is an ABC of Psychology and Psychiatry. The | | | | are now depressed, anxious or in stress. |
| A is affect or the way that we feel. B is behaviour. C | | | | Let us make one final distinction. Are we talking about |
| is cognition, the way that we think. | | | | poor quality life? Is there a limitation in functioning? This |
| The way that they think and feel determines the way | | | | is important. If we are merely discussing you should be |
| we will behave. The way that we think, feel and | | | | offered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy |
| behave is called our coping style. Our coping style is an | | | | CBT can be offered effectively and conveniently in an |
| admixture of our personality and life experience. | | | | Online Self-Help format |
| Let’s discuss thoughts and feelings. Thoughts | | | | Is there a limitation of functioning? Are you no longer |
| and feelings are the reaction to an event. The dyad | | | | behaving as before? If so then you should be offered |
| should be limited in time. If the dyad continues after the | | | | medications. |
| event has ceased to exist it is now called a mood. | | | | In my next article I will explain how feelings and |
| It is common knowledge that thoughts and feeling | | | | thoughts interact. This explanation explains why and |
| interact. Nice feelings good thoughts. Bad feelings bad | | | | how CBT works. |
| thoughts. We can see the possibility of a vicious circle. | | | | |