Episode Details

Today, Rhonda and David discuss seven great questions submitted by podcast fans like you!

1. 1. Are depression and anxiety states of self-hypnosis?
   2. How do you deal with somatic symptoms in TEAM?
   3. Should we forgive Hitler and Stalin?
   4. What if a patient feels stuck and unable to identify emotions?
   5. Do you still really believe that depression and anxiety, regardless how severe, can be treated even without the use of prescription drugs?
   6. Do you have to work on your negative thoughts the moment they appear?
   7. What role, from your years of practice, does spirituality have in the psychotherapy?

1. Are depression and anxiety states of self-hypnosis?

Hi David,

I have two questions after listening to Corona Cast 7: "My Struggle with Covid-19! Is it REALLY True that only Our Thoughts Can Upset Us?"

I was struck by thinking of anxiety as the result of hypnotizing ourselves into believing our fears. Can depression by thought of in a similar way, except that we hypnotize ourselves into believing our distorted thoughts about ourselves?

2. How do you deal with somatic symptoms in TEAM?

Can you do an episode about how to deal with unpleasant somatic situations, as Michael was experiencing during the recording, that suggest there might be some psychological distress but don't seem to have thoughts associated with them?

Thanks!

Hi Derek,

Another great couple of questions, thanks! Will add these to the next Ask David podcast, but the short story is yes, for sure—both depression and anxiety can be thought of as states of self-hypnosis, or trances, because you believe the messages you give yourself, (eg your negative thoughts) that are not true.

I think one could add other positive and negative emotions to the list as well, including anger--believing the other person really IS wrong, bad, inferior, and so forth--as well as mania and narcissism, telling yourself that you really ARE a superior person, etc.

This is a hugely important topic, and "emotional reasoning" fuels these trances: I FEEL worthless / inferior, so I must BE worthless / inferior, and so forth.

With regard to your second question, you might want to listen to yesterday's live session with Sarah, (Podcast 193, https://feelinggood.com/category/dr-davids-blogs/feeling-good-podcast/) since it focuses on intense somatic sensations generated by emotions, and you can actually hear the exact moment of recovery, when the physical sensations disappeared.

David

3. Should we forgive Hitler and Stalin?

Hi Dr. Burns,

Do you honestly think what Hitler and Stalin did should be forgiven?

Albert Ellis said one should. I disagree!

Tom

Hi Tom,

I only help people with problems they are asking for help with. I am not an evangelist or moral authority!

David

4. What if a patient feels stuck and unable to identify emotions?

A new comment on the post "Uncovering Self-Defeating Beliefs (SDBs)--For Therapists (and Interested Patients) Only!"/

Hi Dr. Burns,

Awesome blog post! Your accessible and kind demeanor shine through clearly. What if a client feels stuck and unable to identify emotions?

Holly

5. Do you still really believe that depression and anxiety, regardless how severe can be treated even without the use of prescription drugs?

Hi Doctor Burns,

My name is Jasmine, and I just started going back to ther