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Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy
Audiobook13 hours

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy

Written by David D. Burns

Narrated by George Newbern

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

The good news is that anxiety, guilt, pessimism, procrastination, low self-esteem, and other 'black holes' of depression can be cured without drugs. In Feeling Good, eminent psychiatrist David D. Burns, M.D. outlines the remarkable, scientifically proven techniques that will immediately lift your spirits and help you develop a positive outlook on life.

Now, in this updated edition, Dr Burns adds an all-new Consumer's Guide To Antidepressant Drugs, as well as a new introduction to help answer your questions about the many options available for treating depression.

  • Recognise what causes your mood swings.
  • Nip negative feelings in the bud.
  • Deal with guilt.
  • Handle hostility and criticism.
  • Overcome addiction to love and approval.
  • Build self-esteem.
  • Feel good everyday.

Please visit www.feelinggood.com to access supplemental materials, the Feeling Good Podcasts, the Feeling Good Blog, and more!

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperAudio
Release dateMar 21, 2017
ISBN9780062686909
Author

David D. Burns

David D. Burns, M.D., a clinical psychiatrist, conveys his ideas with warmth, compassion, understanding, and humor unmatched by any other writer in the self-help field. His bestselling Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy has sold more than three million copies to date. In a recent national survey of mental health professionals, Feeling Good was rated number one—from a list of more than one thousand—as the most frequently recommended self-help book on depression. His Feeling Good Handbook was rated number two in the same survey. Dr. Burns's entertaining teaching style has made him a popular lecturer for general audiences and mental health professionals throughout the country as well as a frequent guest on national radio and television programs. He has received numerous awards including the Distinguished Contribution to Psychology Through the Media Award from the Association of Applied and Preventive Psychology. A magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Amherst College, Dr. Burns received his medical degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine. He is currently clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine and is certified by the National Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

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Reviews for Feeling Good

Rating: 4.231686498126064 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    I separate discussion of this book into two parts: general life philosophy versus treatment for depression, which I will deal with later. One over-arching statement that I would make is that Burns (and a lot of other social science experts) would benefit greatly from reading up on evolutionary psychology and game theory. Even if one doesn't accept that much of psychology is inborn and universal, they provide insight into the social uses, such as the maintainance of reciprocity, of "shoulds", should-nots" and retaliation. General Life Philosophy On the positive side, everyone needs a certain amount of what this book is peddling, that is, the ability to intellectualize and gain objectivity about one's feelings. I do think, from experience, that one can learn a certain amount of desirable control over one's emotions but it is a lot of work, and calling it "choosing" one's emotions is too glib and flip. Unfortunately, it is possible to do this too much, and while this is exactly what some people need, I think that it might be disastrous for people who have weak "boundaries" or problems with assertiveness. It cuts the ground from under their feet by claiming that they have no right to expect certain things from other people, like fidelity from a spouse or consideration from other family members. I suspect that this would effectively prevent them from doing anything to solve their problems other than effacing themselves. Although he would deny it, Burns is saying that anyone who is angry, sad, hurt, etc., is the problem, there is never anything justification for their feelings. Therefore, the solution is always to change one's feelings, not one's situation. Burns gives the example of someone who is feeling dissed because he is getting bad service in a restaurant. Burns helps him understand that the waiter may be distracted, and therefore the patron shouldn't take it personally. That's fine as far as it goes, but what if the diner isn't feeling dissed, just hungry? I would recommend asking what happened to the order, not sitting there trying to convince oneself that it is unreasonable to expect a restaurant to serve a meal. He also ignores the relationship between the interacting parties. It's fine to ignore a pushy stranger that one may never see again. A bully that one has to work with needs to be dealt with. Sometimes, one needs to learn to harness negative emotions to create the drive to make situational changes. Further, to me, although I presume not to Burns, there is a difference between accepting that one must make the best of a bad and unchangeable situation and asserting that there is no such thing as a bad situation, just bad reactions. One might decide, for various reasons, not to divorce an unfaithful spouse, but that doesn't mean that they are not behaving badly, or that one does not have the right to decide to end the relationship. This book then has a very common problem: the assumption that there is one solution to life's problems that works in all situations and for all people. Another problem with these systems of dealing with interpersonal behavior is that they are rarely universal and obvious. They may work fine if all the interactors share the same assumptions and follow the same etiquette. Otherwise, the person/people using the system need to recognize that only they have decided to make this change and the reactions of others are yet to be determined. I suspect that if one unilaterally practiced Burns' advice, one would end up taking complete responsibility for all of one's relationships, since Burns argues that if one is unhappy, it is because of bad thoughts that one needs to eliminate. Meanwhile, everyone else is free to assert their wants/needs. This idea of "other people don't make you angry (sad, happy, etc.), you make yourself angry, etc.," also implicitly says that people's reactions are totally unpredicatable and one cannot learn ways of behaving toward other people that are more effective. There are, and I suspect, have to be, social norms for interpersonal conduct, however ambiguous and contradictory they may sometimes be. In a society like this, people are generally held to be free to renegotiate private arrangements, but I don't think that societies and relationships can function without expectations. In fact, if one refrains from gratuitously insulting people and learns to share, one will probably get along better with other people. It is certainly tricky deciding/negotiating what is a reasonable expectation, but I don't think that this book helps. Along this line, I dislike the book's amorality. I gather by Burns' remarks that I am not the first person to suggest this, but if our distress over a partner's infidelity is caused by our "choice" to be upset, not by their action, then it logically follows that it doesn't matter how we behave. The reaction of other people is their "choice" and how are we to know how they will react? If we mug someone, then it is their "choice" to be upset at being injured and robbed, why should we be hauled into court? I have also found that no-one I know who spouts this philosophy actually lives it. The trainer who was supposed to be teaching my office to get along better through these techniques threw a tantrum when someone asked a "disrespectful" question that I thought was very germane. If a person does not personally live by this advice, it may seem rather callous when it is recited to other people. Dealing with Depression I can well believe that this book can be very helpful for people dealing with anxiety: maybe they can learn not to worry about what may never happen. As to dealing with depression, the supposed focus of this book, I don't think that this will help for serious cases. Burns tells us that one of his patients simply got up and ran out of his office without saying good-bye. He was puzzled by this, but I find it perfectly understandable. Yes, this kind of thing and various other little tricks can help when one is a little down or in a funk or feeling whiny or slightly anxious. This type of thinking sometimes depresses me further since it could be taken as implying that if I am not happy now, I never will be. Moreover, I am skeptical that severe depression results from the kind of "negative" thinking that Burns is dealing with here. Burns has now started including discussions of psychoactive drugs in his books, which I consider to be a sort of admission that this is true. The reader might also want to consult Alan Downs' The Half-Empty Heart: A Supportive Guide to Breaking Free from Chronic Discontent, which focuses on dysthymia, chronic or minor depression, which Downs call chronic discontent. In his appendix, he argues that studies have shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) such as Burns recomends is not effective since dysthymia rises from an inability to handle the emotions of relationships, not from self-defeating beliefs.

    5 people found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I was looking for a book to help me understand my moods and this book did just that. I know I am not depressed but I think I suffer from some of the cognitive distortions outlined in the book. I have adopted the techique of recording negative thoughts and challenging those thoughts by giving them a rational response. I think any individual who has been diagnosed with depression can highly benefit from the book and generally anyone who wants to understand their mood swings. My take away is : always choose joy, making yourself miserable will not solve anything.

    2 people found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I think there's a lot of truth in this take on psychology. All of us run "scripts" in our heads. Naturally if you put yourself down, keep saying in your mind that a situation is hopeless, the emotions will follow. At the same time this isn't a book of trite affirmations where you chant, "I am awesome." But it does point out that while you can't always control your situation, particularly other people--you can to some extent control what you think about it, and thus how you feel about it. To that end he identifies unhealthy habits of mind such as All-or-Nothing Thinking, Overgeneralization, Mental Filter (negativism), Disqualifying the Positive, Jumping to Conclusions, The Fortune Teller Error, Magnification and Minimization, Emotional Reasoning (Feelings are not facts), Should Statements ("I should ____"), Labeling and Mislabeling, Personalization ("It's my fault!"). The rest is elaborations, explanations and exercises, but that's it in a nutshell. And no, you're not going to end depression just by reading it--you have to put it into practice. Just as you don't gain muscles by just reading a book about weight training. And some people may need more--therapy, medication. But I do find learning about the common distortions in thinking and more rational responses does help.The best book and info on overcoming depression and other negative thoughts and feelings.
    Thank you.

    2 people found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Personally I find this book very useful for someone having depression or someone who just got rid of it.

    I’m receiving CBT and this book has helped me a lot in understanding the cognitive distortions. My psychotherapist was happy to see myself developing a positive attitude after reading this.

    Now I’m suggesting concepts from this book to make him understand my situation clearly.
    This book will help you understand who you are, when you are struggling with a lot of stress and depression.

    However, this is a must for depressed ones to read.

    2 people found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A must read to control your negative thought and have a better life

    2 people found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I’m enjoying this book but this is a question rather than a review….I don’t know how to reach you other than here….Where can we find the questionnaires? Thanks a lot!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Scientific and empathetic. Unbelievably great book to learn all about tools and how to use them to combat depression and anxiety and so much more. This is a MUST read for anyone out there struggling with any type of mood disorder. I loved this audiobook so much I want to buy the physical copy and read it again, as well as buy another one to give as a gift to loved ones

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Is anyone want to get better from depression this is this is the book

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    You absolutely must read if struggling in any way.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    TOP-NOTCH BOOK!!! Very informative!!! A lot of things I didn't know about!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The narration was excellent. The narrator came across as though he were a counselor through tone and cadence. I’ve applied a few of the suggestions for changing thoughts and I have felt better not only due to more positive thoughts but also the confidence that the tools available to me work.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Amazing !! it worked perfectly for me, I just had to follow the steps, thank you very much for sharing the Book.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book is an old book about cognitive behavioral therapy at its beginning, now cognitive behavioral therapy is far more established in treatment of many psychiatric disorders, it is no longer a new therapy, but the techniques described in this book are still valid and helpful and you can make use of it

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Very nice read with great information and easy to understand

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Lithium ruined Britney Spears. I simply don’t trust anyone who recommends it. However there is useful information in the book regarding how to understand moods and knowing how to approach with the solution.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Good points but too much detail included. Would prefer it simpler.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The best book and info on overcoming depression and other negative thoughts and feelings.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It's a great book on depression, it is but rather long and the message is repeated quite few times. I enjoyed it
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Was really great. Best book on learning to manage emotions
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Pessimistic person need to hear this book it will help you. I loved it.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    It was good for the first portion of it with the general explanations of why you feel or act some way with helpful tips. I did not finish the book because it eventually stalls into redundant scenarios and tricks 2-3 hours in.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Overall a good read with lots of practical concepts which I will definitely try moving forward .
    For my purposes there was a lot of information about antidepressants and I would have preferred more of the practical advice .
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Very informative and useful material
    A must read for all !
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book has been a great help to get specific exercises to get my anxiety in check. The triple column technique has helped me a lot. Some of the contents, in particular the stories from previous patients, is sometimes simplistic and may put some people off. But the book contains a lot of down to earth advice and exercises to stop letting one's emotions take control.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great Audiobook. don't mind listening it again . .. .
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I have suffered with major depression for many years. I know for a fact that, for me, I'm not depressed because of negative thinking. Major Depressive Disorder is a real thing, and this man's entire premise is wrong. Still looking for someone who understands and can help. Or even just understands.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Highly recommended. Just listening to the book helped me identify my cognitive distortions and feel better about things that used to make me depressed. Also contains helpful exercises and detailed discription of antidepressants.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book has given me a new lease on life. I am ready to use the skills introduced in this book. I have been on antidepressants all if my life, but now I want to correct my thinking. I want to have better control over my life and not to solely depend on antidepressants.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The book is fantastic! It covers everything! I want to ho through this book again with a group and do the homework. I really think it will help my procrastination and perfectionism.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Most impactful and life enhancing book I've ever read on my life time!