Computerised CBT

[alancue]

I have been presented with this option on my last visit to the GP.
It sounds ok but wanted to know if anyone had done it .

[Munchroom]

I've just started it after being advised to by my GP.

So far I have done the first 'module' - it has told me that I am 'High to Very High' in the depressed category and 'High to Very High' in the anxiety category.... I'm just waiting for it to tell me my name and date of birth! 

Little bit dubious I must admit, but I'm at the point where I'm willing to give anything a go. So far what I have done seems to tire me out very easily, lots of question answering and thinking of situations.

What do you think of it so far?

x

[Sweetpea]

I did computerised CBT with MIND last time I was ill.  I used to go weekly and do it in a room on my own.  I got printouts of everything I did each session, still have my folder to look over when I need it.

S x

[smirfy21]

I wouldn't mind giving this a go, do I have to get my GP to refer me?

[Munchroom]

I do it through Mood Gym smifry. Its a free program and anyone can create an account and do it. If you Google  it then its the first site that comes up x

[Sweetpea]

You can ask your gp, but in our area it would have taken over a year, so he contacted MIND for me and I started in less than a month, and it was free.

S x

[smirfy21]

I asked my psychiatrist about it today and he was really funny about it, it was like I offended him by even mentioning it ( I really have to ditch this shrink)
I will google it
smirfy

[alancue]

Thanks for your comments on this.
Havent started it yet. Sent off my questionnaire this morning and now waiting to hear from them !
Could I just say that its great to be on here and get replies from people in the same position as myself.
Suddenly I'm not alone !

[Stormy]

Hi there,

I have just joined the forum after I saw this post, as I've just started a CCBT course and have been looking for other people's experiences.

After being diagnosed with depression, my GP put me on the waiting list to see a counsellor and prescribed medication. I have been told that CCBT is a good thing to do while you wait for counselling and the medication can lift you enough to complete the projects in between sessions.

I've completed the first week and I was a bit put off because it said I 'appear to have a lot of symptoms that might take a little longer to go away'! But I'm taking it one step at a time and making time to do my first week's project.

I'm still quite new to all this, I only started medication on Boxing Day last year, so I feel like I'm still getting used to that. And I haven't felt any great mood changes yet, but I guess it takes time!

Let us know how you get on after your assessment, it would be good to have someone to share the experience with. I feel like a huge burden on my partner!

[Stormy]

Hello again! Has anyone else got any experience of computerised CBT?

I found the first week's project (homework!) for Beating the Blues quite difficult as it asked me to write down three problems (I chose no motivation, having high expectations of myself and feeling hopeless) and note when, where and what I was doing when they happened.

I got so upset focusing on these problems, that I actually think it made them worse! I obviously didn't want to face up to them.

The second session was really good, talking about these automatic thoughts that start a cycle of negative thinking. This week's project seems a little easier, just recording what I'm doing each hour of the day (just with a word or two) and rating how I feel against it.

I'd be interested to hear what other people think of this, and whether it has helped with depression/anxiety in the long term.

[tharidler]

hello
i have done a cbt course and after seeing someone recommend ccbt on moodgym i thought i would take a look and i must say that apart from obviously not having a real person talking to you i was quite suprised how similar to my cbt course the computer version the added advantage of being able to stop when you like is nice i would say to anyone it's worth a try and to stormy i found both in cbt and ccbt that working through these thoughts and feelings can be upsetting sometimes but i found with time it was easier to do the work

[Sweetpea]

I agree I did CCBT with MIND a couple of years ago and also looked at Mood Gym as someone recommended it here.  Its very similar to the course I did.

I still have my work in a folder and its interesting to look back on.

S x

[FunkMo]

I've used various online CBT courses and they can be very useful to understand how your perception plays a major role in depression. Since completing them I do now recognise when I am letting something overwhelm me and the steps to take to try and address it.

The computerised courses are great if you dread the prospect of a face-to-face or telephone session. If you have a internet access at home you can conveniently complete them at a time that is right for you. I found that I would get so upset in telephone sessions that we rarely progressed with the course.

Computer based courses aren't for everyone, and aren't necessarily a 'cure all' but I would definitely recommend giving them a go. I started out with MoodGym about 8 years ago and it stills seems to be a good introduction to online CBT.

[Scafell]

Hello again! Has anyone else got any experience of computerised CBT?

I found the first week's project (homework!) for Beating the Blues quite difficult as it asked me to write down three problems (I chose no motivation, having high expectations of myself and feeling hopeless) and note when, where and what I was doing when they happened.

I got so upset focusing on these problems, that I actually think it made them worse! I obviously didn't want to face up to them.

The second session was really good, talking about these automatic thoughts that start a cycle of negative thinking. This week's project seems a little easier, just recording what I'm doing each hour of the day (just with a word or two) and rating how I feel against it.

I'd be interested to hear what other people think of this, and whether it has helped with depression/anxiety in the long term.

I think this is the same one I would have done through talking space. I found it difficult to catch myself thinking negatively and that's part of what you need to do. I also found as the course progressed, some stuff wasn't relevant to me (like session on fear) yet you still had to complete the homework.

Now I see a counsellor face to face which I prefer. We do similar CBT stuff but it's tailor made to my particular issues which can change weekly!!