Distorted Thoughts
The cognitive process of depression is based on the theory that distorted thoughts and beliefs lead to negative moods and behaviors, resulting in a depressed state. Cognitive therapy was developed for many patients who were not being treated successfully through traditional therapeutic approaches, which included focusing on the past and often looking back to childhood. Depression may result from the simplest thoughts and feelings, leaving a person in a bad mood or depressed by the end of the day. The person does not connect these moods with earlier feelings. For example, the person may get angry with himself for not doing his taxes when they are due the next day. He gets upset at work over a small mistake. He is driving home from work and realizes he has to attend an event later that evening. He also has to take his car into the auto shop for a minor problem. The worries overcome him and by the end of the day he is feeling down. These kinds of minor feelings can turn into depression.
Overgeneralizing
The problems a person is facing are almost insignificant by themselves. But they can develop into irrational beliefs that cause depression. The beliefs are based on false assumptions that have built up in the mind, according to Psychology Information Online. The person may believe that a small mistake will lead to being fired, that he cannot be happy unless everyone likes him or that if he works hard he will be successful and rewarded. In real life, this does not always happen. But a person with depression may start to believe he is no good or weak because of a failure to be happy, always right or successful. If a person begins to overgeneralize a few simple mistakes, the person could reach the irrational conclusion that he is bad or incompetent, and that person subsequently becomes depressed. Pessimistic thinking is not a cause of depression, but it might contribute greatly to depression if the person constantly feels this way.
Identify and Correct
Cognitive therapy tries to correct false beliefs that lead to these negative moods and depression, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) explains. Thoughts precede moods, so the best therapy is to replace the negative thoughts with healthy thoughts. These positive thoughts will improve a person's mood and behavior, and reverse the process that brought the person to depression. Cognitive therapy is an effective treatment for depression that helps the patient identify and correct inaccurate thoughts, according to the University of Michigan Depression Center. The therapist may also show a patient how to use specific strategies to deal with minor problems, breaking them down into small steps the person can handle during the day to overcome negative thinking.
