email chain about CBT - name changed for privacy

gistfile1.txt

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: andrew@cbtreferee.com <andrew@cbtreferee.com>
Date: Sat, Mar 31, 2012 at 7:47 AM
Subject: Re: CBTReferee
To: Rachel Harris <rharris@...>


try and view the world this way:

every morning when you wake up, the first thought to "catch" is something like:

"oh god another day. another day as me. another day as rachel.
great. i know what a day for rachel is like. this is going to be...
fun." (where fun is sarcasm.)

and replace it with:

"i get to be a part of earth today! and I get this body to enjoy earth
with. some people don't even get a partially working body. my body
has problems but I am so grateful for another day. let's make this
day fun." (where fun is the exact opposite of sarcasm)

now, that's not easy to do. I know. When I was severely depressed I
might have punched someone for telling me to "look on the bright side
of life." Because my pain was so intense. I don't mean to trivialize
chronic pain. It's not that. CBT is rising above that pain and
conquering it. How do you do something that big? How do you eat an
entire elephant? One bite at a time.


On Fri, Mar 30, 2012 at 2:04 PM, Rachel Harris <rharris@...> wrote:
> I am a Christian.
>
> I have generalized anxiety disorder with panic. I also have 2 rare medical
> conditions and have been in chronic pain for 18 months. I have had countless
> surgeries & procedures without success. My counselor suggested the app for
> me so I guess she can help me with how to retrain my thinking.
>
> Thanks for your help.
> Rachel
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: "andrew@cbtreferee.com" <andrew@cbtreferee.com>
> To: Rachel Harris <rharris@...>
> Sent: Fri, March 30, 2012 4:58:42 PM
> Subject: Re: CBTReferee
>
> that's not a simple question. it takes practice. what religion your
> parents raised you with and what religion you are now is a big part of
> it. I was an atheist for years. very hard for atheists to beat
> depression in my view.
>
> On Fri, Mar 30, 2012 at 1:21 PM, Rachel Harris <rharris@...> wrote:
>> So how do you learn the referee way of thinking?
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from my Android Device
>>
>>
>> -------- Original message --------
>> Subject: Re: CBTReferee
>> From: "andrew@cbtreferee.com" <andrew@cbtreferee.com>
>> To: Rachel Harris <rharris@...>
>> CC:
>>
>>
>> CBT is very challenging in the beginning. But you do it over and over
>> and over again and eventually it becomes automatic. I wrote the app
>> for myself in 2009. Now in 2012 I can say I think the correct way all
>> the time without even thinking about it. But in 2009 I could never do
>> it.
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Mar 30, 2012 at 10:21 AM, Rachel Harris <rharris@...>
>> wrote:
>>> Hmmm that is challenging as it seems if you are having the negative
>>> thought
>>> you don't have the ability to make the referee statement....
>>> Thank you for such prompt responses.
>>>
>>> Rachel
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: "andrew@cbtreferee.com" <andrew@cbtreferee.com>
>>> To: Rachel Harris <rharris@...>
>>> Sent: Fri, March 30, 2012 1:11:21 PM
>>> Subject: Re: CBTReferee
>>>
>>> there is no "magic" that writes the correct thought for you. the idea
>>> is to put on an objective hat and write the thought without bias
>>> yourself. you are the referee!
>>>
>>> for example:
>>>
>>> "that person must hate me"
>>>
>>> put on your referee hat and write instead:
>>>
>>> "that person probably does not hate me at all, they probably just met
>>> me and do not even know me yet."
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Mar 30, 2012 at 10:02 AM, Rachel Harris <rharris@...> wrote:
>>>> Ok so I entered my thought, assigned it " jumping to conclusions" and
>>>> hit
>>>> next step and it says referee says...does the app give you the referee
>>>> thought? Or are you supposed to put in a thought? How does that work?
>>>> Rachel
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my Android Device
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -------- Original message --------
>>>> Subject: Re: CBTReferee
>>>> From: "andrew@cbtreferee.com" <andrew@cbtreferee.com>
>>>> To: Rachel Harris <rharris@...>
>>>> CC:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> click the android main menu button (a physical button on the phone
>>>> itself) and a menu will pop up with next screen option. hope that
>>>> helps!
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Mar 30, 2012 at 9:42 AM, Rachel Harris <rharris@...> wrote:
>>>>> I have downloaded this app and it says write a thought but there is no
>>>>> next
>>>>> screen, the referee doesn't come up, nothing happens at all. Can you
>>>>> please
>>>>> send instructions? Thank you, Rachel
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Sent from my Android Device