Podcast 60, How could psychotherapy possibly help someone if their depression results from a chemical imbalance in the brain?
In today’s podcast, David and Fabrice return to their original goal of documenting David’s list of “50 Ways to Untwists Your Thinking.” These are the methods David has learned, created, or refined to combat the negative thoughts that trigger depression, anxiety, and anger, as well as the positive thoughts that trigger habits and addictions. Today, they focus on one of the more obscure methods called “Self-Monitoring.”
David describes how “Self-Monitoring” works. He thinks of it as “Meditation in Daily Life.” The whole idea is to note a negative thought that suddenly pops into your mind, and then to track it, or count it, with some type of counting device, like the wrist counters golfers wear to keep track of their scores. Then you can simply let go of the thought and continue with what you were doing, instead of dwelling on the thought and getting distracted and upset.
David explains that most of the time Self-Monitoring is not very effective, but occasionally it can be extremely helpful or even life changing. He describes an eye doctor who was incapacitated with severe OCD who recovered completely after just four weeks of Self-Monitoring in combination with Response Prevention.
David also describes how this technique, along with the Daily Mood Log, was curative for a retired carpenter with severe depression following a stroke. The type of stroke is called “Pseudo Bulbar Palsy,” and the symptoms include uncontrollable sobbing or laughing after the slightest sad or funny event or comment. In this case, the man’s depression was the clear result of brain damage.
This case was particularly interesting because the therapist for the carpenter was one of David’s students, a clinical psychologist who had raised the question, “How could cognitive therapy possibly help someone if his or her depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain?” Since she knew the carpenter’s depression was caused by thousands of microscopic hemorrhages in the deep structures of his brain, she did not see how any kind of psychotherapy could possibly help.
What do you think about this. Listen to this podcast, and you’ll discover the surprising answer!
At the end, David and Fabrice discuss the critical importance of quantitative feedback, for therapists and patients alike, as well as the role of “feedback loops” in our daily lives.
If you would like us to schedule a podcast on any of the “50 Ways to Untwist Your Thinking,” please send us a comment below or email us and we will schedule a podcast on it if we have not yet done that!
Dear Dr. David,
I would also like to express my deep appreciation for your sharing your wisdom and experience with all of us, in fact I connected to the material so much I found it only about two weeks ago and already caught up and heard all 60 podcasts!!
Considering the breakthrough idea that we need to overcome a persons hidden resistance before we can proceed to try to help them, isnt there a type of catch 22 in the case of a depressed person, since thier primary weakness is that theyve lost hope if we position ourselves as the voice against change they wont find within themselves the strentgh and perseverance to overcome our challenge since thats the very fibre of thier current weakness, in other words im challenging them in thier weakest and most vulnerable place?
Thank you,
Avi
I would like to elaborate a bit on my previous post, I’m assuming that your answer might take the general form of finding the sublime quality and the deep virtue of thier resistance, but in the case of hopelessness it seems hard to make a convincing case of something phenomenal in the person giving up, something that will truly resonate with the struggling person and stir within them the awakenings of resilience and coping.
Further, in the case of habits and addictions the suggested rationale for resistance was simply that the addiction is easy and pleasurable and conquering it is difficult and very demanding, where here can we find something beautiful and powerful in the addicts attachement to their addiction?
Again Thanks,
Avi
Thanks, Avi, will try to answer on a podcast or Sunday FB live broadcast. Appreciate the thoughtful questions! david
I would love to know how you answered Avi’s questions, if possible, in Summer 2021!
I am only up to podcast 60, and just got Feeling Great from my library, but the quality and quantity of your podcast discussions, ideas, personal and professional experiences, and wealth of knowledge so generously shared is truly on another level, in my opinion! Hope you and Fabrice see and receive my feedback, as you both have earned and deserve to know how amazing, interesting, educational, and cool you and The Feeling Good Podcast are! After listening to this episode, my question is, what might be a good technique for me to try upon realizing my current depression and anxiety symptoms of general and social Anhedonia plus the negative thought that I can’t cope like I have done before because I am too unmotivated and shattered from a lifetime of adjusting to change and getting used to coping at the new normal only to be blindsided by high risk changes that are more likely with age, and my comorbidities/mental and physical defecits since childhood. The most recent trigger to cause my relapse to worsen was having my first Crohn’s resection surgery at the end of last February. The thing that drives me insane is I know my all or nothing mindset is distorted, yet I am so resistant to interacting with family and friends, as I have enjoyed in the past because my normal desire is completely missing and I am addicted to feeling safer, more comfortable, less distressed by being to myself.
This may be too long, bu this episode and Avi’s questions inspired me! Sincerely an avid fan and listener, Daniella
Thanks, what was Avi’s questions? d
Avi asked:
Considering the breakthrough idea that we need to overcome a persons hidden resistance before we can proceed to try to help them, isnt there a type of catch 22 in the case of a depressed person, since thier primary weakness is that they’ve lost hope if we position ourselves as the voice against change they wont find within themselves the strentgh and perseverance to overcome our challenge since thats the very fibre of thier current weakness, in other words im challenging them in thier weakest and most vulnerable place?
My current question, as well: Can you suggest a technique to help me overcome internal resistance, as the discipline I had before my relapse worsened the last couple of months is desperately needed, in order to force myself to do the things I know will help me get better. I think I understand, in making progress, high frequency of taking steps to get better is more important, for shorter periods, versus rare action steps for longer periods of time. I am aware of my own comfortable discomfort, but overcoming my own resistance to change, etc. is a real bummer of a challenge! Thanks for always responding and sharing your knowledge, Dr. Burns!! Daniella
I apologize but will be out of commission for the next few weeks due to health issues, but would suggest your search for resistance on the website, and you should find lots of useful blots. Also, new book, Feeling Great, might help, or even a consultation with a TEAM shrink. Warmly, david
No apologies necessary! I hope you are okay! I will use all your available resources, for sure. You answered Avi on podcast 61! 😄You and Fabrice choose great questions to address on the podcast.😜🤗
Daniella
Thanks so much! d