Rational-Emotive Therapy

Albert Ellis, PhD, co-author of the book A New Guide to Rational Living, says "...almost the only sustained and 'unbearable' misery that we accept as legitimate or justifiable results from prolonged and undownable physical pain. You needlessly manufacture virtually all other prolonged agony." While I accept physical pain as a legitimate basis for misery, there may also be one or two other reasons for misery, though that's for another posting.

What happened to me during the recent very dark period in my life was that I was suffering from untreated chronic physical pain, which compounded the depression I already had. And when I found a pain clinic with professionals who listened and prescribed medication that actually relieves, the darkness began to lift. Another reason that the darkness began to lift is that my son telephoned me and offered to be my sounding board if need be. He also suggested that I go to A New Guide to Rational Living, as it spoke quite clearly to other aspects of my discomfort. I had read it years ago, then again later, during difficult emotional times, and it had helped then. So I ordered another copy (I couldn't find the copy I had had for over 20 years). And he was absolutely right -- it helped. As I mentioned some weeks back, my son recently took a Master of Science in Psychology, and as his second (after himself) "patient,"I am quite pleased.

It helped that he called to see how I was doing and to suggest the book. It further helped that he called a second time last week to check up on me. I'm certainly not suggesting that this one book is "the answer." But it's an intelligent, rational approach to human behavior which I needed to peruse again. And between the medication and the rational thinking I've been exposed to these last few days, I feel better than I did when I wrote what I thought might be my final blog posting. I go again Thursday to the pain clinic, where my medication will probably be adjusted. And I'm so grateful that I don't feel so damned lousy today, for several days, actually.

Thank you to my M. D., my C. M. T., and thank you to my son. I know I have other work to do on my depression, but thank you all three!