My copy arrived last week:
I found out about this by accident and decided I needed to try it. Surprisingly good. It’s more of an introduction to CBT, but I heartily recommend it to anyone who is looking to get on top of their positive symptoms and control how they react to them.
I don’t have any positive symptoms. I don’t know much about CBT. Would it maybe help with negatives or no? Someone suggested it might help with anhedonia before I think, but I have no idea.
It’s effective for treating depression, so it’s worth a try.
Ok, thanks @shutterbug . I might pick one up.
There’s no way for me to be 100% sure where my symptoms roots lie so it’s worth a shot , like you said.
I know antidepressants don’t do jack for me, but maybe this will.
You rang?
I’m waiting for “Janiteering for Dummies” to come out. I’d buy that for a dollar.
I’m writing my autobiography: “Dummy for Dummies.”
I got both Cognitive Behavioural Therapy For Dummies and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Workbook For Dummies on Amazon…just as an update.
I’ll try anything.
Thanks again for the suggestion Velociraptor…I’ve used “for dummies” books on other subjects in the past and have found them easy to follow and useful.
If it helps you, that’s great. I’m very sceptical about CBT. Probably because I’ve come across it being used too many times to invalidate people’s experiences. If it was used as it should be used, i.e acknowledging your experiences but helping you to cope better with them, then I’d be far less sceptical about it.
I should stress I’m talking about anxiety/bullying/depression/OCD/self confidence/trauma etc here,i.e non psychotic faulty coping mechanisms.
The jury is still out as to its worth in improving symptoms of psychosis. It obviously helps some individuals, but overall the picture is far less clear.
@firemonkey CBT is not meant to improve positive symptoms. But rather to shape your tolerance and understanding of your symptoms.
But having deeper insights and being aware of your triggers can help you develop strategic action plan to “fight” or cope with conditions you are facing.
CBT- positive symptoms and schizophrenia
I’m going by what the experts, pro and anti CBT for psychosis, have said.
You just totally crack me up every time @77nick77 .
I shudder to think what a gloomy place this site would be without you.
I found CBT very helpful for anxiety and depression, but not for psychosis or sleep. I’ve bought 2 courses, one done at home and one done online (at home), plus I did a CBT course as an outpatient program at the hospital. It gives you great insight into your thinking. One of the core principles of CBT is that if you change the way you think then you will change the way you feel.
I’m a fellow dummy too, I bought this book a long time ago. I learned a bit about C programming and made some simple text based programs but gave up on it and have forgotten everything I learned. I also had The Internet for Dummies back in the 90’s when I started using the Internet but I can’t find it, it is somewhere here in the house.
You realize that Alcoholics Anonymous is actually a form of CBT and is acknowledged as one of the most helpful support programs worldwide? It was AA’s Steps that gave me tools to deal with SZ when my own doctors weren’t. It’s what encouraged me to try therapy and formal CBT. My voices have gone from being a source of terror to a source of amusement as I’ve been able to shift my reactions to them. As my stress level has dropped I’ve needed fewer meds. The fewer meds I’m on the fewer side-effects I suffer, the less pronounced my negatives are, and the better my own cogintion and overall function are.
My psychiatrist thinks CBT treatment should be mandatory for all SZs and that it would save the system loads of money in the long run. Of course no politician can stomache the thought up the up-front investment in us and the majority suffer needlessly as a result.
CBT doesn’t remove psychosis at all, that’s for sure. You need meds for that. It will help change how you react to it and – maybe – step your illness down a notch or two by taking you out of the stress ==> symptoms ==> stress ==> symptoms positive feedback loop.
I’ll let you know if I ever figure out the goddamned sleep thing.
I love CBT. I did it in a group that ran 3 or 4 years. It really helped.
And @firemonkey in my experience, it has nothing to do with processing your experiences. That’s a more advanced step for later on. CBT is all about
My therapist actually told us we were not allowed to discuss out experiences, traumas, etc because that wasnt the focus of the group.
I wonder if I need the dummies CBT book since I already have the Feeling Good Handbook? 
I don’t have psychological problems. My sz negative symptoms are a medical problem my psychiatrist said, she prescribed me Clozapine, she will also prescribe Modafinil.
On Abilify my sz negative symptoms were a lot less than now on 6mg Risperdal.
Good for you. Enjoy the next ten years in your bedroom. At least.
