Wow! This is really powerful and I've really never thought about doubt in such a cognitive way. Even the concepts and guidance in your blog is very helpful to me. I have bipolar disorder and have been doing cognitive behavioral therapy for years which has helped me tremendously. My therapist, who is excellent, has guided me through much of my fear based thinking. Yet when I think of the concept of fear based, the feeling of panic goes along with it. The word "doubt" doesn't induce panic in me, it induces a more contemplative thought process. As I read your blog, I tried your doubt method on some stressful thoughts rolling around in my brain - and it works so well!!! "Fear based" often brings in the "fight them or be upset that you get them" which you talked about. Sometimes when I feel like this I am pretty much paralyzed with that fear and find myself unable to make decisions, from small things like which brand of toilet paper to buy to who exactly am I at this stage of my life? When I addressed some of my current "train wreck brain" thoughts I'm having today, "doubt" sets a more objective and less panic stricken examination of those thoughts. I am most definitely going to read your book, as well as talk about it with my psychologist. I just want to thank you for the help your words of wisdom in your blog have given me today! I am very hopeful and excited that the entire book will help me even more!

Sincerely,
Mary

Thanks for putting yourself out there for all to see. You are very brave. I suffered with depression and many issues and this will definitely help!

Thank you :) I'm not sure if I'm brave, but I've been inspired and helped by others who are willing to talk openly about mental illness to try to correct the stigma associated with it. I think that the more of us who speak out openly, that if we educate even just one person out there, then it's a step in the right direction, showing people that we are not "crazy" as so many people out there still believe in this day and age. Also if I help maybe a few people that have a mental illness realize they are not alone, then it's worth the risk of speaking out. I am so looking forward to learning more ways from your book to keep me on an even keel!

Thanks so much,
Mary

You are so right that most people don't understand it if they haven't actually experienced it. If you're depressed they tell you to snap out of it and do something to help yourself. And if your depression causes you to be pessimistic or sad they think it can be changed if you wanted to. They compare with their healthy mind of how they were able to snap out of it. Outside of mental illness, we also unknowingly contribute to the negative feelings of anger, sadness and fear and that is why I wrote the book... To help people sort it all out and simplify it to make changes easily. Since I do know the difference between mental illness and just messed up thinking, it made it much easier to write about it. Once you read the book you'll be shocked to see what's been going on and how easy it is to stop it.

Ah yes, the "just snap out of it" and other similar phrases that I've had said to me - easier said than done - and only adds to one's feelings of failure and dysfunction because one can't just change it so easily. I've actually gotten much better and quicker at rebounding from things over the years, thanks to help from my doctors and the right combination of meds that allows me to look at things differently. I'm so looking forward to reading your book and putting your advice to use - it's always great to find a new and positive way of looking at things. Thanks so very much for taking the time to talk with me too!