Hello Everyone,
Summer is on the way, no major catastrophes have erupted lately, and for the most part, life is good.
Yes, I realize there is still a war going on, gas prices are soaring, and the real estate market seems to be “softening,” but it is more important than ever to maintain an optimistic attitude.
The Positive Attributes of Optimism
One of the major attributes my husband possesses is optimism. I love that about David. He is almost always “up” and tends to project a pleasant disposition on situations where most people would be negative. People like him and like to be around him because he’s usually in a good mood.I find it interesting that even in a negative situation; he tends to put a positive twist on things. Instead of saying that business is bad, he says that business is “soft.” Instead of saying the vacation was boring, he says it was relaxing. Instead of saying our daughter can be demanding and selfish… he says she is strong willed and independent! I always get a kick out of hearing his “glass is half full” way of putting things. The positive power of optimism helps him see all of the good things that can pass by in life.
The Positive Power of Optimism Inspires Other People
We have been invited to an amazing fundraiser for the last two years by someone who buys our media time. It is such a generous thing for them to do. They put us up in a nice hotel for two nights and buy David and I tickets for the annual fundraising dinner. This year I thanked our hostess again, and told her how much we enjoy this event. She said she loved having David there, and commented on what a special person he is, to which I agreed. “Interesting,” I thought to myself. “David is the reason she invites us. That’s really cool.”I believe this positive outlook on life is a trait he has inherited from his mother. She is always up and fun, and seems to see the positive side of things. I remember various family challenges that caused stress and concern, and yet she always had a way of ending the situation with a positive thought or idea.
Antidepressants Do Not Work for Everyone with Mood Disorders
This brings me to a recent study put out by the National Institute of Mental Health addressing the efficacy of antidepressant medication at treating mood disorders like depression. It was quite lengthy and very detailed, and I don’t want to bore you with all the numbers, but I will share some interesting summary observations from one of our staff psychologists, Dr. Ed Pigott.In reviewing the study, Dr.Pigott determined that during seven months of intensive study in bi-weekly treatments with a high caliber physician, using various antidepressant drugs separately or in combination, only 39% of people participating experienced remission from their depression symptoms. Only 39%! For some, remission from their mood disorders lasted for only two weeks. In other words, antidepressants don’t work for many people with depression, and don’t work forever for most. Teaching behavioral skills is a better way to harness the positive power of optimism.
Behavioral Skills that Teach Optimism
What is the alternative or what could work in conjunction with these antidepressant medications to improve their efficacy?Behavioral skills that teach optimism and positive attitude.
So much has been written about attitude. Our program focuses on teaching people to use a positive attitude. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t have optimistic role models. In fact, coming from an alcoholic background, I had just the opposite. As a result I grew up negative, worrisome, and rather pessimistic. (Although I used to think I was a positive person.) Positive attitude and optimism are traits I work on maintaining to this day so that I can have a better perspective on life.
Attacking Anxiety and Depression Program’s Effectiveness
In the year 2000, Doctors Finch, Lambert, and Brown conducted a published study in the Journal of Clinical Psychology regarding the efficacy of the Attacking Anxiety & Depression Program. These researchers found that our self-help program was three times more effective at treating symptoms of depression than six sessions of outpatient group therapy; that our coaching program was four times more effective at treating mood disorders than ten sessions of outpatient group therapy; and that 68% of our customers score in the “remission” range during the 15-week program. Not just feeling better, but absence of depressive symptoms.Changing the way you think and respond, and maintaining an optimistic attitude can greatly affect your depression and anxiety levels. In addition, if David is any indication, it can greatly affect your social life! But it is a skill that has to be practiced and applied.
Give it a try. Until next time…
Lucinda
