COGNITIVE SELF-HELP SUPPORT

02/15/2026
Cognitive behavioral therapy can train the mind to cultivate positive perspectives, stay in the present, find peace in anxious times. It takes dedication though as well as effort, and time. You don’t need to learn these techniques from a therapist. There is a multitude of literature available both online and in print which offers CBT techniques individuals can use to strengthen mental fortitude. If you’ve never picked up a self help book, now might be the time.

Imagine your mind becoming healthier just by the way you think!

Cognitive strategies like examining your thought patterns and developing better thinking habits can be life-changing. 
Top-selling self-help books on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) include David Burns' Feeling Good, a classic for depression/anxiety, and Mind Over Mood by Greenberger & Padesky, a widely recommended workbook. Other highly-rated titles for managing anxiety, stress, and negative thoughts include Retrain Your Brain: CBT in 7 Weeks by Seth Gillihan and Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life by Stephen Hayes. for a self-help book that uses a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and ancient stoic philosophy to directly deal with the challenges of complete quadriplegia check out my book Seven Secrets of a Sedentary Stoic : Pursuing a Path to Post Paralysis Peace.

Be Kind to Your Mind 

Activities that can help us go to a positive headspace include helping others, showing gratitude, and staying busy.

 

Many of us deal with quadriplegic life by not focusing on ourselves exclusively. Research shows that being helpful to others has a beneficial effect on how you feel about yourself. Don't assume that you have nothing to give! You can give your time and lend an ear. You can extend empathy and impart wisdom. Your help is priceless.

Also noted by positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps us feel more positive emotions, enjoy good experiences, improve our health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.

Research also shows us we are happy when we are busy. Find a project to work on that matters to you. You don't have to say the planet or write the next Great American novel.


We are also happier when we are healthy. What we put in our bodies and how much we move them around plays a big role in anyone’s mental health. Exercise as much as possible, drink lots of good fluids and eat foods with good nutrients. Finally, get outside. Fresh air helps to send plenty of oxygen through the blood and allows your lungs to work at full capacity. Oxygen to your brain strengthens it, and the sun provides much-needed Vitamin D.

Then there is meditation and mindfulness. The mental health benefits of meditation include better focus and concentration, improved self-awareness and self-esteem, lower levels of stress and anxiety, and fostering kindness. Visualizations help to minimize stress, as do audio grounding meditations which describe nature. Meditation also has benefits for physical health, as it can improve tolerance for pain.


Mindfulness can help with self-control, objectivity, affect tolerance, enhanced flexibility, equanimity, improved concentration and mental clarity, emotional intelligence and the ability to relate to others and one's self with kindness, acceptance and compassion.

SOURCE FOR THIS PAGE: SCIENCEDIRECT.COM
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