Welcome Linnie
Since you have done some CBT you may be ready for the next step, Which is finding the answer to a question you have that is acting as a trigger. That question subconscious and conscious is "why". When you don't have an answer for it your mind goes searching for answers to either side of memory into associated memory. Some of these associated memories are negative and some are positive. But most just bring up more questions. The load causes stress and anxiety in the form of agitation and unwanted thoughts leading down other paths till you break away or take a pill to stop it.
There is so much that falls under the CBT umbrella and much of it will only get you so far. Relaxation and coping skills are at the bottom and for many these are enough because there anxiety and panic is just barely over the line into attack. In this case CBT is doing little more than the pills without the side effects. For the large majority there is no need to go any farther. And then there are people like me who said, not good enough. To stop it from happening I need to know why it is happening. I want prevention, not maintenance. It amounts to, you can't fix it if you don't know why it is broke.
It is easy enough to say change thought patterns, but to what, and why? And wouldn't it be nice if you could do this before it was obvious instead of after the fact. Well you can. I did. It took a lot of work and a lot of study. Some of it was scary and some took a change of belief. This isn't so much CBT as explaining why CBT. And it works.
I'm just a member with experience, lots of experience. I know what works and what is only an adjunct.
Davit
Professionals want you to fit into their plan and if you do they can help. Some of us don't fit.
