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I have spent my 38 years in Psychiatry trying to organize terms that seem obvious. Unfortunately they’re not.

There is an ABC of Psychology & Psychiatry. The A is affect or the way that we feel. B is behaviour. C is cognition, the way that we think.

The way that they think & feel determines the way we will behave. The way that we think, feel & behave is called our coping style. Our coping style is an admixture of our personality & life experience.

Let’s discuss thoughts & feelings. There is more. Thoughts & feelings are the reaction to an event. The dyad should be limited in time. If the dyad continues after the event has ceased to exist it’s now called a mood.

It is common knowledge that thoughts & feeling interact. Nice feelings good thoughts. Bad feelings bad thoughts. Right. We can see the possibility of a vicious circle. In fact this will help us define depression. The circle may become so tight that we do not respond as before to any situation. Our mood has worsened. We are now depressed, anxious or in stress.

Let us make one final distinction. Are we talking about poor quality life? Is there a limitation in functioning? This is important. If we’re merely discussing you should be offered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CBT can be offered effectively & conveniently in an Online Self-Help format

Is there a limitation of functioning? Are you no longer behaving as before? If so then you should be offered medications.

In my next article I’ll explain how feelings & thoughts interact. This explanation explains why & how CBT works.

Dr. Michael Benjamin Psychiatrist

myRay: Online Free Self-Help CBT http://www.myRay.com

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