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Is anybody familiar with Albert Ellis and his REBT method. It is basically CBT but he was one of the pioneers of training the mind to think rationally, because, let's face it, all of us SAD sufferers are effected by irrational, delusional views of the world. I am not trying to get in my high horse and say that I am enlightened but through my therapy I have learned that the reason why I have SAD is because much of my emotional maturity has not advanced far past the childhood stage. What do those with SAD usually complain about? The anxiety that others will and are judging them. That we are the center of attention when we walk into a room. That if someone were to act like an *** and insult us then that would just be soooo terrible that we just can't deal with it. Really? If some screwed up individual actually took the time to insult you or treated you unfairly (according to your own view of how the world SHOULD work and the way people MUST act towards you), then give me a good reason why you should give a sh**. Are you going to go home and sulk about someone who is no better than you, no matter who he is or what his status or position is, and beat yourself up over what HE thinks? The reason why we get upset is because we hold people up so high above us as if they were some supernatural being that knows all about you and couldn't possibly misinterpret who you are. In addition, we ACCEPT their criticism as the truth. So, we need to ask ourselves why we feel insignificant, stupid, weak, etc. and realize that we may have these faults BUT we can help train ourselves to improve these faults. It is not the end of the world but merely an inconvenience and a pain in the ***. The distortion is that we have learned to catastrophize our social inadequacies as if they are insurmountable and we continue to hide using safety behaviors. We continue to self-doubt and therefore not even try to face our fears. Yes, repetition and exposure can work but not when you spend the entire experience wanting nothing else but to leave. Realize that you don't have to impress anyone. No one is better or worse than you. Everyone has the right to make a mistake and do something that might make you angry just have you done before. This is all part of life and we all have our own unique weaknesses. I know we can get through this if we understand that if someone does you in, so what? Is it really that important? Is it really going to help the situation if you sit around an sulk over it for hours and days and months and years? The answer should be obvious. Its time to repeatedly tell ourselves in a loud and assertive tone what the reality is and to stop acting like a two-year-old. I don't mean to sound like I don't do this. I do. I just wrote this because this is what I am just beginning to learn and I feel I am making tremendous progress with this philosophy. I am not trying to lecture and I am sure many of you have heard all this before. I would recommend going on youtube and watch and listen to some of the Albert Ellis clips or just read a little about his therapy. You may find that it can help you begin to find your way out of this mess.