Behavioral Activation

One of the many techniques used in treating Depression and Anxiety is something called Behavioural Activation. It comes from the idea that we can't think our way out of depression or anxiety which to the contrary only makes it worse. I personally have found that getting yourself out of a deep depression and coping with anxiety involves  baby steps when it comes to Behavioral Activation. You can't set the bar too high. For the past several months  I have been  firmly attached to either the couch or the bed , so  moving forward I had to set small goals . In treatment we actually have a list we fill out each day of activities we are going to partake in from small to somewhat larger goals.  This helps us hold ourselves accountable . Emptying the dishwasher has been on my list as well as making my bed. These might seem like ordinary tasks to most but they have been daunting challenges to me for several months. 

As a result of my depression and anxiety (Symptoms of OCD) I have also been suffering with agoraphobia as well. This makes tasks like going to the grocery store in order to cook a meal particularly difficult. The list also helps me stay on track with a technique called "Opposite Action." This method is also highly effective and entails basically doing the opposite of what your depression or anxiety is telling you to do. Since starting treatment I have made great strides using these simple techniques and methods towards being more active and more interactive. 

At the moment I am home.  I do about 8 hours a day  of combined telehealth and homework. The program I am in now through Rogers Memorial Hospital focuses on depression and anxiety specifically. The residential center I was in through them for OCD was unable to treat me due to my depression and anxiety levels being too high to engage, so I was forced to address these sypmptoms before potentially returning to residential treatment. The teleheath team is also helping me address the OCD.