Anyone else a member of Recovery International, or other cognitive behavioral training programs?

[Critters2]

RI has been a huge help to me in dealing with my anxieties and depression. I was wondering whether there are other DUers who are also RIers.

Here's a link to the method:

http://www.lowselfhelpsystems.org/system/our-method.asp

[mopinko]

2. not me, but

my sleep doc wants me to do this for my insomnia. i am less than thrilled. but do figure it couldn't hurt.

curious to see what others think.

[mopinko]

4. no, no just dbt

i see what you are getting at now- the self help part of it. i can understand that.

[Critters2]

6. Since it's free, unless you choose to buy the books (which you can get any decent library), I'm not

selling anything. Just really looking to connect with others who are using the method.

And it is, in fact, cognitive behavioral therapy. You'll also notice that I asked whether others were using RI OR OTHER CBT programs. I'm not selling anything.

Nor is it anti-psychoanalytic. It isn't anti-anything. Those in RI are free to combine it with any other treatment method that works.

Dr. Low was the chair of Neuropsychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a pioneer in cognitive behavioral therapy.

You're not interested? Fine. No skin off my back. I hope whatever you're doing is working for you.

[Critters2]

7. I haven't used it for insomnia, though that has lessened as my anxiety has improved.

But the literature does talk about it as being effective for insomnia.

Dialectical behavioral therapy is similar to RI, from what I understand, and has shown some pretty impressive results in clinical trials and treatment centers. I wish you well with your treatment. Insomnia can be hellish.

My best wishes!

[hunter]

10. When I see a list like this:

Anger/outbursts
Anxiety
Attention deficit disorder
Bipolar disorder
Borderline personality disorder
Compulsions
Conflict resolution
Depression
Dizziness
Eating disorders
Fatigue
Feelings of low self worth
Fears
Insomnia
Light-headedness
Mood disorders
Obsessions
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Palpitations
Panic
Panic attacks
Poor self image
Schizoaffective disorder
Schizophrenia
Shyness
Sleep problems
Social anxiety
Social phobia
Suicidal tendencies
Stress
Sweats
Tremors

http://www.lowselfhelpsystems.org/system/our-method.asp

I think of this:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patent_medicine

The disclaimer, "... it is not intended as a substitute for professional care, but rather as an adjunct to it..." is the same one you see on many sorts of alternative medicine schemes, a rare number that may be useful, but mostly not.

One thing I've learned by very hard won experience is to never underestimate the power of THE CRAZY.

The Crazy is like cancer, there's no one treatment for all the various types. Some mental illnesses are more or less benign, others are absolutely deadly.

There are mental illnesses best treated with drugs. Like cancers, there are different drugs for different illnesses, and in many cases the indications are not precisely defined. There are aspects of my own crazy that simply evaporate with the right medicines. It's astonishing. Take a pill, I'm better. Like magic. Some mental illnesses can be treated with talk therapies, or a combination of drugs and talk therapy. Some mental illnesses are not treatable and may require the physical removal of the person from environments where they become a danger to themselves and others.

This site pushes my internal skepticism meter into the warning zones.

[mopinko]

11. it appears that there is some

button pushing happening here. i don't like to see someone being jumped on over something that has helped them.

is this something that has some personal history for you hs?

critters, i read the wiki on this and it sounds interesting. i can see where skepticism might be justified. but i also think that a lot of psychotherapy is just a crap shoot to keep you busy while your life gets quieter, or you grow up and get a grip, or... and that freud was extremely full of shit.
so, such a different approach seems like an interesting thing to discuss, pro and con. just the evolution of thinking about mental illness shown in that wiki was interesting.

[Critters2]

13. I must admit, I'm not clear how "anti-psychoanalytic" is a bad thing. :)

I know this has helped me. I sat through a meeting last night which, three months ago, would've had me either enraged or in tears. Somehow, I was able to calmly react and engage without killing the people who deserved it. Say what you will, I credit that to my RI training.

A lot of it is what my therapist calls "mindfulness", just being aware of how my body reacts when I'm anxious or depressed. It's amazing how just that helps me control my reactions and not walk out of a tense situation either dismally depressed or furiously angry. All of that contributes to my overall mental health.

Simplistic? Maybe. I don't give a rat's ass. I'm calmer and in a better mood nearly all of the time. That's what I was looking for. So, I win.

Take care, mopinko.

[scroungerking]

14. defiantly not for me

I went to my first, and last RI meeting last night. Never sat in a room with more neurotic foot tapping ash tray smelling people in my life.
The theory is interesting though, too bad this is the only group within 35 mile of me.

[gopiscrap]

15. Welcome DU

[charin]

16. Recovery International

I've found it helpful.