4 ms·

I'm glad it helped, but I'm curious how many years out you are? CBT doesn't show efficacy in meta analyses in the long term say 2 years out or so. I'm glad tha

I'm glad it helped, but I'm curious how many years out you are? CBT doesn't show efficacy in meta analyses in the long term say 2 years out or so. I'm glad that you were able to get good treatment - I think also the clinical standards here are pretty abysmal, so in the US if you're getting CBT you're most likely dealing with serious insurance issues that limit the quality of care. In addition post pandemic even paying out of pocket it's harder and harder to find therapists with any spots :( All bets on quality are off if your only options are one of the larger clinics in a big city. At least that's been my experience. CBT does show efficacy in the short term, no one is contesting that. But I think that's also kind of why it's "awful" - because people get so excited about it that it's touted as some magic bullet, or cure all. The effects from CBT were so strong that a whole industry popped up around it and we're seeing it increasingly applied to things that it shouldn't be applied to and people silencing the narrative from those who are trying to speak out against it. CBT is a tool and it's appropriate for certain situations. But the issue with CBT being overused and in the hands of untrained professionals who are overeger to apply it to a variety of situations it's completely inappropriate in is very, very problematic. I'd guess that's a bigger issue here in the US. For example you're absolutely not supposed to use CBT if you're homeless, can't get enough to eat, and so on, and this is in the training manuals. You need to have your basic needs met. But it's routinely used anyway. A tool this powerful and with this evangelical of a base behind it is dangerous. It's the same problem we were seeing with the sugar and alcohol industry getting involved in clinical studies. We're losing sight of the science behind it because it turned into an industry that's being threatened. But thanks, it is good to hear it's helping people and get a data point there. Anecdotally I've only heard negative/neutral personal experiences with it, and although the majority of those experiences were from people with more serious mental health challenges I did hear from people who were dealing with transient issues who had no luck from it - again could be quality issues and some of them could have fared well with CBT at gold standard. I feel like increasingly we're hearing the industry champion CBT rather than the patients so as a patient your story is important too.

firecall 5y ago
Thanks for your amazing replies! I’m around 18 months in. The AU gov are amazing in this regard - under a mental health plan from your GP, you can get 10 free appointments with a qualified Dr per year! No cost! I totally take your point about long term efficacy! My Doctor has said they now realise they need not only to get patients heads above water, but they need to get them well above water! All cases are different, and I’m fortunate in many ways. Im diagnosed with ADHD. My nervous breakdown is likely a result in part by me trying to fit myself into the corporate word and burning out! Im fortunate because my ADHD makes me very fearless and confident to take control of my own destiny. And I have a strong introspective ability - says my Therapist! And I’m a relatively wealthy middle class good looking white man with an amazing wife and a stable home life. Now anyway. I almost burned it all down with self destructive behaviours. The world is kinda on my side. And I get for many, they don’t have the backup networks that I did. I have zero qualifications and came from a very poor family in the UK. But by virtue of being smart and sounding posh, being white and good looking in a suit, I’ve gotten ahead in this world. Not bragging - I say that as recognition of my good luck and my empathy for those who are not so lucky. And I do mean luck. I didn’t get here by grit and street smarts and believe it’s your fault if you don’t…. Anyway. I guard my mental health now like the Crown Jewels! I can easily see how others would fall backwards. I don’t need to get time off work. Or make excuses. If I’m feeling bad I can just go to the gym in the middle of the day. Or do yoga. Or meditate with the Smiling Mind app for half an hour. I have everything. Others are not so lucky!
- cupcake-unicorn 5y ago
  I'm neurodiverent too so I feel you! People are really rough on those with ADHD and making steps forward with all that trauma from "failing" or whatever from childhood is a real thing. You're exactly on point with the self acceptance/non judgement part, but it takes a lot of time to cultivate! So glad you've found the support you've needed and things that worked for you. That's one of the biggest components of therapy working and I'd say that often that connection with the therapist and humanistic element is missing here in the US, especially if you need to use the larger clinics on Medicaid. It sucks when therapists try to circumvent things before a trusting relationship has been made. Thank you so much for the Smiling Mind app meditation, it looks like it's based in AU which may be why I didn't hear of it! Another one I like is Buddify, and there's another app called FocusMate that I use as a life hack when I'm having problems completing tasks.

firecall 5y ago

Thanks for your amazing replies! I’m around 18 months in. The AU gov are amazing in this regard - under a mental health plan from your GP, you can get 10 free appointments with a qualified Dr per year! No cost! I totally take your point about long term efficacy! My Doctor has said they now realise they need not only to get patients heads above water, but they need to get them well above water! All cases are different, and I’m fortunate in many ways. Im diagnosed with ADHD. My nervous breakdown is likely a result in part by me trying to fit myself into the corporate word and burning out! Im fortunate because my ADHD makes me very fearless and confident to take control of my own destiny. And I have a strong introspective ability - says my Therapist! And I’m a relatively wealthy middle class good looking white man with an amazing wife and a stable home life. Now anyway. I almost burned it all down with self destructive behaviours. The world is kinda on my side. And I get for many, they don’t have the backup networks that I did. I have zero qualifications and came from a very poor family in the UK. But by virtue of being smart and sounding posh, being white and good looking in a suit, I’ve gotten ahead in this world. Not bragging - I say that as recognition of my good luck and my empathy for those who are not so lucky. And I do mean luck. I didn’t get here by grit and street smarts and believe it’s your fault if you don’t…. Anyway. I guard my mental health now like the Crown Jewels! I can easily see how others would fall backwards. I don’t need to get time off work. Or make excuses. If I’m feeling bad I can just go to the gym in the middle of the day. Or do yoga. Or meditate with the Smiling Mind app for half an hour. I have everything. Others are not so lucky!

cupcake-unicorn 5y ago
I'm neurodiverent too so I feel you! People are really rough on those with ADHD and making steps forward with all that trauma from "failing" or whatever from childhood is a real thing. You're exactly on point with the self acceptance/non judgement part, but it takes a lot of time to cultivate! So glad you've found the support you've needed and things that worked for you. That's one of the biggest components of therapy working and I'd say that often that connection with the therapist and humanistic element is missing here in the US, especially if you need to use the larger clinics on Medicaid. It sucks when therapists try to circumvent things before a trusting relationship has been made. Thank you so much for the Smiling Mind app meditation, it looks like it's based in AU which may be why I didn't hear of it! Another one I like is Buddify, and there's another app called FocusMate that I use as a life hack when I'm having problems completing tasks.