Spoiler warning: don't read this thread if you have
strong aversions to people talking about their psychological hang ups and how to be free of them. If the mere thought of this makes you want to vomit, just note where in your body you feel that vomitous sensation, watch it arise and pass!

(PS. I don't hold onto my 'stuff' like a badge of honour, and I have no interest in wallowing around in it. I want a ticket out).
Tarin, carrying on from the other thread, what I would say to the person beating himself up is something along the lines of "You're ok....there's nothing in fact wrong with you... you're alright". I'm guessing you think I could try saying that to myself??
The other thing is, when a person is depressed, it's almost impossible to recall any good feelings. Or maybe you can recall the time and event, but not the feeling itself. Meds don't really help with this aspect either. So, the bit about when did I last feel ok is very hard to answer.
And regarding cognitive therapy and it's similarity to AF - I have one very trusted and up-to-date source on what constitutes proper cognitive therapy and it goes like this:
1. Notice a bad feeling arise
2. Find the event that you believe triggered it
3. Write down any thoughts relating to that event (self talk, images, words, sounds, names, scenes....
anything, however vague or fleeting)
4. Fill out the raw material from number 3. (above) into a full sentence, a belief.
5. Ask - is there any rational support for this belief? Is it helpful? What evidence exists for the accuracy or falseness of this belief?
6. Substitute alternative, realistic statements about the triggering event.
The major block to this, according to my source, (and this is what I find personally), is that irrational self talk is so extremely swift that is goes unnoticed almost all the time.
I wonder whether watching one's thoughts closely is a good idea, ie. do insight meditation on mental phenomena. What do you think?
All comments welcome from anyone.