How common are mental health problems? How can you get support to improve your mental well-being using Cognitive and behavioural therapies?
In this day and age, we are all becoming increasingly aware of the issues related to mental health. The fact that people can suffer from some form of mental health problem is now better understood in general, and excepted as a common health problem, more than it was only 15-20 years ago. But what has helped people to recognise the need to better understand and support mental health, and the subsequent services that are provided? Could it be that more people are themselves experiencing mental health issues, therefore helping them to be more sympathetic and empathic towards others? Also, could a general knowledge of cognitive and behavioural therapies as well as other methods of treating and supporting mental health, help people to be more understanding?
Modern day statistics do show that 1 in 4 will have suffered from some form of mental health issue this year, and therefore everyone, at some point in their lives, will no doubt have experienced a mental health problem. Cognitive and behavioural therapies are now an excepted effective way of dealing with these issues. However, in times past, serious as well as the mundane everyday mental struggles were often kept hidden and brushed over. It seems, based on recent research and a better understanding of mental health and how to care for it using cognitive and behavioural therapies, that a tendency to ignore or hold back from dealing with these problems has at times resulted in many physical illnesses and prolonged mental difficulties. Ignoring a small amount of stress once or even twice may seem like just employing the good old ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ attitude, but over time it can have its impact if not dealt with suitably. Breakdown of relationships, unemployment and even suicides have therefore been just some of the results, and these issues have been occurring for many years.
Gillian Lock is a counselling professional and psychotherapist, employing cognitive and behavioural therapies as part of her services. But what is it?
Cognitive Therapies
A cognitive therapy is all about recognising patterns in our thinking, and therefore on how we react to certain situations. We are all susceptible to negative influences or difficult past experiences impacting on the way we behave to any following similar situations. For example, a simple illustration could be when a driver experiences a car crash. The memory can then cause them to feel anxious and scared every time they are asked to get behind the wheel of a car.
Behavioural Therapies
This is best worked on hand in hand with the cognitive side of these therapies. The distinction between the two lies in recognising that sometimes our actions and the way we react to problems or events, can influence the way we think and continue to behave. By behaving in certain ways, we reinforce the reasons for our mental health problems, therefore increasing the length and intensity in which we experience them.
For more information contact Gillian Lock today.
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