As much I appreciate CBT (the medical term, not the kink), sometimes it's difficult to use the lit on a rough mental day.
Catastrophizing, for instance: a cognitive bias that has you imagining the worst possible outcome (e.g., that I'll have to quit writing soon, & work day & night to make enough money to fix my problem).
But the lit focuses on the thought being irrational. A lot of people's catastrophes are *very* plausible. We're just trying not to let them override how we get by day by day.
It's a common limit to therapeutic language, though: failure to acknowledge how many problems aren't internally derived, but rather, very normal patterns of internal distress in the face of socioeconomic pressure. Fear of losing one's home? Very real, for so many.
The language is supposed to empower, but it might be more empowering to say "the world is so awful that trying to trick myself into putting aside the most probable outcome 'til it arrives is the best I can do for sanity here and now."
Thank you for this, ATXJane.
CBT helps me to delineate mental processes that *might* be caused by a bipolar downcycle (or upcycle, but as I'm B2 it's the downcycles and mixed states I have to worry about most).
But when it comes to the external stressors *exacerbating* those lows? Sometimes it's not "fortune-telling" so much as using informed predictive modelling!
Take good care of yourself while being present with so many others in their times of need, eh? 💙
I have thoughts about B2 and that’s a great way to use CBT. And predictive modeling is super helpful.😉 I bet you have developed or learned lots of helpful skills in that regard.
I’d love to share things I’ve picked up along the way. But my guess is you’ve got tips you could share with me!
So good hearing from you. 💛
Oh, ATXJane, I really appreciate the way you framed that. You are so clearly a professional. :)
I *do* love hearing how professionals are growing in their knowledge for bipolar management - especially since I'm not alone in my family with it, and my little brother has bipolar 1 with intense manias, which separately trigger my lows out of a sense of parentified care for him.
I'm not up for a chat just now, but I will happily swap brain-pickings in the future. Thank you for caring!
@MLClark
💯
I’m not on the CBT train as much as many practitioners are. I think there are some useful reframes there but it can’t be all mental level driven intervention. We are multidimensional beings who perceive & experience our social lives & intrapsychic worlds physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually.
Sometimes “acknowledging what is” is the most empowering move — and if it’s not the most empowering, it’s certainly a really good starting point.
Take care, Merry Little🌸