Cognitive behavioral therapy is based largely upon the tenet that our thoughts influence our actions and that past experiences shape our thoughts. Helping people understand how their thoughts affect their behaviors can help them understand the reasons behind the decisions they make and how they can better handle their situation. For people suffering from mood swings and mood disorders, CBT to be a great way for people to understand what brings about changes in their mood and allows them to better handle those situations.
CBT Sessions
Cognitive behavioral therapy for mood swings is often short, usually between six and 20 sessions. When working together, the therapist and client develop a collaborative understanding about the nature of the mood swings and what events and thoughts lead to those swings. The therapist and client also work together to create a set of goals for the client to work toward to alleviate the changes in their lifestyle that lead to their mood swings.
Managing Moods
An important part of CBT revolves around managing the thoughts that precede a negative mood state. Most often, clients will come into therapy with irrational beliefs about certain events that cause their mood to shift rapidly and often cause depressive symptoms. The therapist then helps the client identify these automatic thoughts and work through why they are irrational and how they can negatively affect a person's mood even if they have no basis in fact.
Interrupting Automatic Thoughts
By understanding the automatic thoughts that contribute to their mood swings, a client can begin to deconstruct their thought process and interrupt the cycle that leads to change in their mood. When they feel an automatic irrational thought coming to them, a client can understand that it is not based in reality and reassure themselves that they have the ability to get through the event. This re-centering of their thought process can help a client avoid a negative mood swing before it even starts.
Mood Swings for Adolescents
In addition to adults, CBT for adolescents can help them understand their mood swings and the automatic thoughts that contribute to those changes. Because teenagers have such a range of emotions that they may not understand, CBT can help them put words to their emotions and better understand their thought processes. In addition, it can help teenagers examine how their beliefs and feelings affect the way they act in their everyday life.
