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Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Pain Management
Positive thinking, or healthy thinking, is a way to help you stay well or cope with a health problem by changing how you think. It’s based on research that shows that you can change how you think. And how you think affects how you feel.
If you think in a positive way, you may be more able to care for yourself and handle life’s challenges. You will feel better. And you may be more able to avoid or cope with stress, anxiety, and depression.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, also called CBT, is a therapy that is often used to help people think in a healthy way. It focuses on thought (cognitive) and action (behavioral). CBT can help you notice the discouraging thoughts that make you feel bad. These thoughts are sometimes called irrational or automatic thoughts.
Using CBT, you can learn to stop these thoughts and replace them with helpful thoughts. Healthy thinking also involves calming your mind and body. You can use one or more techniques. These may include meditation, yoga, muscle relaxation, or guided imagery.
Many people work with a therapist or a counselor to learn CBT. But you also can practice healthy thinking on your own.
For more information, see Positive Thinking With Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: January 20, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Nancy Greenwald, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | |
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