Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think

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Readers who quickly become overwhelmed and repeatedly tell themselves “I can’t” might find it hard to enjoy this book.

Beck Award for significant and enduring contributions to the field of cognitive therapy from the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and the Distinguished Contribution to Psychology Award from the California Psychological Association.Listen to an interview with co-author Dennis Greenberger, PhD in discussion with Julie Osborn, LCSW. The content is clearly cross-referenced and the reader is guided every step of the way, allowing it to suit their own individual needs. At best, this book is an engaging journey in reflection and active problem-solving leading to a better health outcome.

The book includes Reading Guides that direct readers to the skills most important in managing depression, anxiety, anger, guilt, and shame. For example, say you meet a new romantic prospect, and within a few days you’re thinking “This person is perfect for me! Mind Over Mood provides effective cognitive techniques for patients to develop a more balanced view of themselves, to challenge the automatic thoughts, assumptions, and core beliefs they dearly hold. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or received from the International Bipolar Foundation.CBT helps us understand how our core beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and behaviour are all intertwined. According to CBT, it’s largely our thoughts that lead to moods like depression and anxiety – thoughts about how things must be, how we should behave, how other people ought to treat us – and by changing our thoughts, we can change how we feel. True to its title, this book really can help you transform your thinking so you can make lasting changes.

The exercises are well explained and really help you to dive deep into the reasons why you may be feeling or acting a certain way. The explanations are clear, include examples showing different people using the skills and have helpful summaries at the end of each chapter. That thought record was done in a session with a therapist – a very skilled and caring therapist who saw my potential much more clearly than I did – so I have to give her as much credit as the thought record itself. Mind Over Mood teaches you to identify and understand the connections among your thoughts, moods, behaviors, and physical reactions in everyday situations like this one, as well as during major events in your life. CBT then helps us correct any "flawed" beliefs or thoughts that are causing us to act or react in any way that isn't helpful, healthy, or functional.

However, it’s important to stick with verifiable evidence such as facts, data, probabilities, and percentages. Remember, the goal isn’t to eliminate emotions altogether; it’s to gain a balanced perspective in which your emotions are proportional to the reality of the situation.

Often, how much you believe your alternative/balanced thoughts is related to how much your moods have changed in the next step. The book is filled with worksheets for practicing the skills used in CBT until they become second nature. When you bring such awareness to your internal experience, there’s often a spontaneous shift in how you feel.In addition, the skills you learn using Mind Over Mood help you create and enjoy more positive relationships. Cited as “The Most Influential Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy Publication” by the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies.