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March 9, 2004
Strange Coincidence
Teresa, one of my very favorite commenters and now blogger, suggested that I Google OCD, Counting to find out more about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. So, I did. I found out that I'm on what is probably the correct medication - but not at the correct dosage. I also found out that Cognitive Behavior Therapy often goes hand-in-hand with medication for this um, problem.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy.... that sounder really familiar. I was a psychology major, after all. Hmmmm. Oh, that's it! When I was a junior in college - oh, yes, many, many years ago, way back in 1974, I took a psychology course. It was called something like Rational Self Counseling.
It was one of my favorite classes. My professor, Father Costello, SJ, was a fascinating, funny lecturer who didn't just invite students to participate, he gave us no choice at all.
The class was actually created by Dr. Maxie Maultsby - a pioneer in Rational Behavior Therapy. Father Cos (as we called him) had met Dr. Maultsby at some psychology thing or another and was greatly interested in Maxie's theories. Well, somehow, our class became a collective guinea pig for Dr. Maultsby's theories, and he developed the class I took.
Basically, we looked at our behavior and decided if our behavior was rational given the circumstances or was it irrational? What did I think or say to myself before I started this behavior, etc. Then the trick is to reverse negative thoughts that trigger the behavior (be it smoking cigarettes, drinking too much, phobias, etc) and to talk yourself into better behaviors (yes, I know this is corny) by positive thoughts. It also teaches you to realize that you, and you alone, are responsible for how you feel.
There is homework involved - you need to write all this stuff down. Then, look at it later in the day. Then evaluate if your reaction made sense - how could you better react.
It was very effective for me when I was in college - I had some problems with over reacting to criticism, etc.
Anyway, because of Teresa, I will talk to my doctor about changing my Celexa dosage to see if that helps with the OCD stuff. I am also going to order Dr. Maultsby's more current book on Rational Self-Counseling, Coping Better, Anytime, Anywhere. I'll let you know how it works now that I'm lots older!
Posted by Beth at March 9, 2004 8:58 PM
Comments
Actually, without having had it in a class, what you describe as "rational behaovior therapy" is exactly how I crawled and scrabbled my way out of the Black Pit of Despair, which I keep on planning to finish writing about, but keep on having things like life get in the way...
It sounds to me like you're already OK, but you know better than those of us who read you, so I wish you the best!
Posted by: Jack at March 9, 2004 11:33 PM
Thanks, Jack. Actually, I cope pretty well, but I'd really like to get rid of the underlying anxieties I have had for a good chunk of my life. I think I'd be more productive and have more fun.
And I think I would be less likely to drive John nutty (:
Posted by: Beth at March 10, 2004 6:21 AM
Oh - goodie I'm glad you were able to find something!!! I'll cross all my fingers and toes (when I'm not using my toes for typing) that it works and you start feeling better!
Posted by: Teresa at March 10, 2004 9:09 AM
It won't change my nuttiness dear. It's organic.
Posted by: John of Argghhh! at March 11, 2004 12:32 PM
No, John, I cannot change your nuttiness. You would have to do that. (-:
Posted by: Beth at March 11, 2004 12:41 PM