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Re: Topic Tuesday // Mindfulness and CBT for carers // 21 March, 7 - 9pm AEDT

Great question @MissSlytherin!

It makes me wonder if there is an approach that combines the two, @snowlee127?

Re: Topic Tuesday // Mindfulness and CBT for carers // 21 March, 7 - 9pm AEDT

@MissSlytherin Yes, and [accpeting] is not a fixed concept. We can accept [the moment], we accept [a happening situation] and we can accept [past]. It may not necessarily mean to be passive about life. Thank you for sharing your experience.  

Re: Topic Tuesday // Mindfulness and CBT for carers // 21 March, 7 - 9pm AEDT

Hi @CherryBomb

I am a carer for my wife who suffers from borderline personality disorder. As a result suffered a significant butnout a number of years ago. (Also attributed to an unhealthy work enviornment).

I have tried both cbt over a number of years with little success and more recently mindfulness with some success.

My percieved) problem with the cbt is that i cannot necessarily identity thinking mistakes and when councillor or psychologist have pointed some out to me they have seemed a bit of a stretch.  (Ie i cant necessarily see the conection) mostly i am just tired and mind shuts down under preassure so i cant function.

Mindfullness is a work in progress and I am currently trying to get into a routine or habit to reinforce this. 

 

Re: Topic Tuesday // Mindfulness and CBT for carers // 21 March, 7 - 9pm AEDT

Dr Mario Beauregard is doing interesting research in this area.  Neurplasticity/neuroscience.   French Canadian Neuroscientist.  Works out of an Arizona University at the moment I believe.

Re: Topic Tuesday // Mindfulness and CBT for carers // 21 March, 7 - 9pm AEDT

I wish that during those difficult moments, a bell could ring and both parties could take time out, breathe and think. Unfortunately, the outbursts would frequently come out of nowhere - no warning and escalate very quickly. Rational thought goes out the window. 

Re: Topic Tuesday // Mindfulness and CBT for carers // 21 March, 7 - 9pm AEDT

Hi @MissSlytherin I haven't seen research around this, although anecdotally I can tell you that yes, I have seen many carers with PTSD symptoms. Sometimes mindfulness can be contra-indicated for those with PTSD. Stilling the mind can cause a lot of unwanted thoughts to flood in, that may have been consciously held back.

In the UK, Ireland and USA (sorry not sure about AUS @snowlee127 I'm sure you can confirm) Trauma focused CBT and another therapy called EMDR are the 'gold standard' therapies for PTSD. 

There are some reputable self-screens online for PTSD if you wanted to have a look.

Re: Topic Tuesday // Mindfulness and CBT for carers // 21 March, 7 - 9pm AEDT

@Determined, you raise some great points. For many CBT is hard, because it's not easy to identify thoughts. Sometimes, it can be so automatic that they're hard to catch. It's like we react without thinking.

Mindfulness is challenging because it takes work. Sometime when I'm focusing on breath, I realise that my mind has gone elsewhere like what my plans are for the day!

Keen to hear what people have found most challenging using either? What are your thoughts on this @snowlee127?

Re: Topic Tuesday // Mindfulness and CBT for carers // 21 March, 7 - 9pm AEDT

@MissSlytherin Yes. Due to the full-time caring role, many carers struggle with time to seek for emotional support. As an organisation that has been providing more than 30 years of services to carers and from our contacts to carer in all walks of life, we found psychological support is extremely important. There are several services that are funded to provide emotion support to carer. There are counselling services, social and recreational activities organised by service providers, carer retreat and carer support group.  But we also know at times, that carers may need more intensive psychological support. The episodic nature of MI also means different support is needed at different time. 

Re: Topic Tuesday // Mindfulness and CBT for carers // 21 March, 7 - 9pm AEDT

@mindbootcamp thank you. Yes, stilling the mind can create its own issues! I find it's very difficult to find the perfect balance of mental health maintenance when under pressure in so many different areas. Thankfully I have a great team who help me through but having chats like this is always priceless too. Thanks everyone for sharing all you have on this thread.

Re: Topic Tuesday // Mindfulness and CBT for carers // 21 March, 7 - 9pm AEDT

Yes, and it is called Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). It combines the ideas of cognitive therapy with meditative practices and attitudes based on the cultivation of mindfulness. It combines psychological education from cognitive therapy with intensive practice of mindfulness meditation. There is consistent empirical evidence in support of using MBCT to decrease the risk of depressive relapse. The initial trial of this intervention started in 2000, and there have been numbers studies investigated its effectiveness.  The evidence to the date suggesting it is effective in terms of reducing the symptoms and supports long-term recovery, however, whether the effectiveness is different to other non- pharmaceutical intervention remains unknown.