caught him barking at the moon, better be soon

[erika]

Me: Huh, University offers mindfulness classes. That could help with my anxiety and depression!
Damn, the Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (specifically for depressed people to prevent against relapse) doesn't fit in my schedule, 'cause I'm taking classes at that time.
Let's see if I can do Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction instead!

University people: You don't really fit in with our Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction class. You should take Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy instead!

Me: -is caught in endless loop, dies-

Comments

[rydra_wong]

FWIW, it is possible to DIY Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (using the book and accompanying CD). Obviously, a group course is going to be different, but I wanted to mention that the resources are out there.

I have a complicated relationship to MBCT, as I got into it during a period when (due to a series of freak reactions to meds) I was temporarily un-medicated.

I found it very helpful and powerful in managing the depressive stuff -- to the point where I actually started getting hopeful that I might survive okay without meds, right before I had a spectacular nosedive. So, yeah. Not enough for me on its own, and in the end I think it may have exacerbated my tendency to believe that I should somehow be able to think myself out of this and fix it all myself. I still can't meditate, because it tends to trigger bad ruminations.

But I suspect that if you did at as an adjunct to meds (and when not in mid-crash), and if it felt like it "fitted" your experiences (all things depression-related being very YMMV), then it could be very helpful.

I've got a friend with severe anxiety and OCD who's thrived on mindfulness classes plus CBT.

[pinesandmaples]

I know CBT in a therapy context is Serious Business and a very legitimate treatment option that shouldn't be marginalized, but the wee perv who lives inside my brain and drives the bulldozer always pipes up with very naughty things about the abbreviation. Which makes me a very bad person.

[rydra_wong]

*snerks* You and me too. I blame fandom.