Cognitive-behavioral therapy is commonly used to treat mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. However, not only that, cognitive-behavioral therapy can also be used to help you deal with the problems you encounter every day-day.
Cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) is a more general term than cognitive therapy and is a form of psychotherapy. Cognitive therapy aims to train your cognitive way of thinking (functioning) and acting (behavior). This is why cognitive therapy is better known as cognitive behavioral therapy.
Benefits of Behavioral Cognitive Therapy on Health
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is used to help people with mental health disorders change their perspective on problems or challenging situations in their lives, as well as the way they react to these problems.
In addition, cognitive behavioral therapy can also be done to help sufferers find approaches and solutions to problems that occur independently. In addition to anxiety and depression, cognitive behavioral therapy has also been shown to be effective in treating other mental health disorders, such as:
- phobia
- Eating disorders
- Sleep disturbance
- Alcohol abuse
- Panic disorder
- Sexual disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
In addition to mental health disorders, physical illnesses related to stress levels or psychological conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), can also use cognitive behavioral therapy as a method of treatment.
How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Works
The concept of cognitive-behavioral therapy is that your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and actions are interrelated and influence one another. Negative thoughts and feelings can get you stuck in a “vicious circle” of problems that feel even more severe.
This can then change the way you think, behave, and even cause physical complaints. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you process these negative thoughts and feelings. In this therapy, you will be helped to:
1. Identify the problem
The most important first step in cognitive behavioral therapy is recognizing and accepting that you have a problem. The therapist will help you to identify the problem, as well as the root of the problem.
Problems in a person's life can be caused by other problems that they are not even aware of. The therapist will also help you find the root cause of your negative feelings or destructive patterns.
2. Focus on finding solutions.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you break big problems down into small problems that you can deal with one by one and slowly, so that they feel light.
3. Look for practical ways that can improve the way you think every day
After helping to simplify your problem, the therapist will begin to lead you through learning to see how one problem relates to another, and the effect each problem has on you.
This is done with the aim of changing the way you view and respond to a problem. Although simple, it can have a huge impact on your problem-solving ability and lead to a more positive attitude.
In addition, you will also be helped to focus on the problems that exist now, not those in the past or those that may exist in the future.
4. Encourages you to practice and practice positive habits
If you are able to recognize, accept, simplify, and understand your problem thoroughly, the next step is to eliminate your old destructive ways of responding to the problem. The therapist will help you learn and practice steps to respond positively to a problem and don't overwhelm you.
After several sessions, the therapist will review the steps that have been taken in cognitive-behavioral therapy. The goal is to see if the methods that have been implemented can be of benefit to you. This is done to find the best way that can be applied in your life.
Cognitive behavioral therapy can indeed be used to manage problems related to your thoughts, feelings, and actions. However, this therapy is not necessarily suitable for everyone.
In addition, this therapy requires good cooperation with the therapist and a strong commitment from the sufferer to be able to achieve the best results. If this is maintained, the period of therapy may be shorter.
During this therapy, you are encouraged to be open and honest, especially during the first consultation, so that the therapist can find an approach and therapy that suits your condition.
If you have a big, life-threatening problem and find it difficult to deal with it, cognitive-behavioral therapy may be the right thing for you. Consult this with a psychologist or psychiatrist, so that you can get therapy that suits your health condition.
