I do CBT and I see a licensed therapist and I go to a group that is cognitively based. I use it and I like it.

I'm finding it hard to find a therapist in my area that does it...in fact all the therapists with promise are an hour and a half away. I'm wondering is it worth the drive...will it really make a difference.

i bought a book called the bipolar work book and it is based on cbt the author is monica ramires basco she also has bp and is a pdoc

Thank you, veryblue.

Only started it a couple of weeks ago with a psychologist.

But because of living in a rural area, visits are fortnightly, support is lacking. ... FCK....sorry

I see a psychologist each week & it's very effective for me. However you have to be willing to let it work & believe it's going to work for its full effectiveness. You also need to have a psychologist you click with & treats you as a person & not a disorder. Fortunately enough I have all of these things & a great support network.

I think the results you get are based off the specific reasons you want to use it for.

For me, it's helped tons in certain areas but none in others. So maybe being practical about what to expect from it might feel more rewarding.

it's helped me a lot with anxiety, being able to use the self talk when I am in crowded waiting rooms, or grocery store lines...it's helped a lot.

it's helped somewhat with my alcohol addiction to over the past year. Not 100% effective but handles the smaller urges.

It's been great in ways like this. But I find when the going really gets tough, there is no hope what so ever of even being able to use this. It's just not practical I find.

I do CBT with a licensed social worker. It has done wonders. I have completed workbooks on depression and bipolar disorder and set goals for myself which I continue to reach. It also let me realize I am a person with a diagnosis not the diagnosis itself. I have bipolar I am not bipolar, if that makes any sense. I can live with it or I can be completely debilitated by it.

My Pdoc has shown me ways of doing CBT at home , or when stressed in crowds.

I don't see a specialist , or anything, it's just something my Pdoc and I do once in a while.

And like Sini said, it isn't always going to work in all situations.

That's why a multi faceted approach to BP health is needed....meds , eating right, and some DBT or CBt can't hurt.

helps with impulsiveness too i should of added and that one is huge.

i use to have really bad habit of thinking I knew what people were thinking of me, and I have had many situations where I would freak right out on people, like a clerk or someone like that.

I can control embarrassing myself now, and i don't get banned from stores anymore and my shopping trips never end up with the police being called. It's REALLY GREAT!

Ok so maybe it's more helpful than I've given it credit for, good luck with it =)

xxoo

I go to a group therapy called Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, I was very weary about doing it in the begining thinking it was going to be like a "meeting" but it stays vague about specific details about your "target behaviors" and really focases on tools on dealing with people and relationships, knowing your triggers, thinking begforing outbursting or sayinging things you can't take back, and knowing ways to walk away or regroup. It has been helpful but nothing is a cure...