I have started reading the book "Feeling Good, the New Mood Therapy" by Dr. David D. Burns. It's very encouraging. In the first chapter, he cites studies, both short and long term, which prove that cognitive therapy is just as effective as medicine in treating depression. The Midwest's program is cognitive therapy. This has been my experience with the Midwest's program. It has proved itself to be more effective than meds for myself.

Several years ago a group of investigators at the Center for Cognitive Therapy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine began a pilot study comparing cognitive therapy with one of the most widely used and effective antidepressant drugs on the market, Tofranil. Over forty severely depressed patients were randomly assigned to two groups. One group was to receive individual cognitive therapy sessions and no drugs, while the other group would be treated with Tofranil and no therapy. This either-or research design was chosen because it provided the maximum opportunity to see how the treatments compared. Both groups were treated for a twelve week period. All patients were systematically evaluated with extensive psychological testing prior to therapy, as well as at several monthly intervals for one year after completion of treatment. The patients were suffering from moderate to severe depressive episodes. The majority had failed to improve in spite of previous treatment with two or more therapists at other clinics. Three quarters were suicidal at the time of their referral. The average patient had been troubled by chronic or intermittent depression for eight years. Many were absolutely convinced their problems were insoluble, and felt their lives were hopeless. A tough patient populattion was chosen so that the treatment could be tested under the most difficult, challenging conditions.

The outcome of the study was unexpected and encouraging. Fifteen of the nineteen patients treated with cognitive therapy showed complete recovery after 12 weeks of active treatment. Two more individuals showed considerable improvement but still experienced borderline to mild depression. One patient showed no improvement and one had to drop out.

Five of the twenty five patients treated with Tofranil showed complete recovery after 12 weeks of active treatment. Seven more showed considerable improvement but still experienced borderline to mild depression. Five showed no improvement and eight had to drop out due to adverse side effects of taking Tofranil.

Many patients treated with cognitive therapy improved more rapidly than those successfully treated with drugs.

The Midwest's program works! Oh you of little faith.

Yes, it is amazing that it's mostly our thoughts that create the anxiety.
But then that also means that the power is within ourselves that can change it!

Hi Don53---I read Dr Burns book and it is excellent infact I use some of his techniques and works very well with program from the Midwestcenter!! Timber

Don,
That is great information!

After many years of searching, I too have experienced the difference with the program.
In my opinion, there is no way in which is could not work, except if one didn't do it.

Cheers,

Devad

Don,
Nice post. It's kinda like what Dr. Phil said (I think tape 2), you can't take somebody that is afraid of heights to go on an elevator and feel the panic to get through it, there's much more to it than that. It is what we tell ourselves and the skills we use to get through it. I've benifited from the MWC program tremendously! I love being my own counselor, it's GREAT!

Angelkeys

Thanks Grateful. It's good that we can change and become who we want to, as you said. Yeah!!

Thanks everyone for your reply. It is beginning to sink in that our thoughts create emotions and brain chemsitry. Good thoughts can create and maintain good emotions and can maintain good brain chemistry. Also the same thoughts have the power to bring us out of anxiety and depression if that is where we find ourselves.

THIS POST WAS PLACED HERE FOR THOSE WHO ARE SKEPTICAL OF THIS PROGRAM and for the rest of us as well.

The patients who recovered in this trial were very depressed and had not seen any improvement after having been to at least two therapists before starting this therapy. Three quarters of these patients were suicidal at the time of their referral. The average patient had been troubled by chronic or intermittent depression for eight years . Many were absolutely convinced their problems were insoluble, and felt their lives were hopeless . A tough patient populattion was chosen so that the treatment could be tested under the most difficult, challenging conditions.

Cognitive therapy has been proven in long term studies to be effective in treating both depression and anxiety. A cognition is a thought or perception. Change your thinking and you change your emotions and brain chemistry. The reason cognitive therapy works is because thinking patterns are changed and thus emotions and brain chemistry are changed. My second depression was caused over night by an obsessive, negative thought which I couldn't get out of my head. One day at work I'm fine, the next day I'm fearful and I know I have clinical depression because I have had it before. My thinking caused a chemical imbalance in my brain. Thoughts create brain chemistry and emotions. If an obsessive, negative thought can cause me to go into clinical depression, changing my thinking patterns can bring me out of it as well, and it has. I am still on two anti-depressants, but essentially off of anti-anxiety meds. (5mg of Buspar daily) I thank God for my recovery because, ultimately, it is His love for me that has brought me to where I am. I was crying out for several years for understanding and help and mercy and He answered those prayers.

The mind is a very powerful instrument, more so than most of us realize. We need to be careful how we use it and what we think about. I honestly believe that everyone that has a problem with anxiety or depression, if it is psychologically based, can be helped significantly through cognitive therapy. The MWC program is cognitive therapy. I was very skeptical as well before I started the MWC program. For thirty years I had brain washed myelf into thinking that the only help available was meds. Boy, was I wrong!

wow don53
i really like that posting, i reread it actually when i feel down, i have had that book for over a year and never really paid it much mind, since it wasn't the instant fix i was looking for then. I am very skeptical about taking meds and i am still holding out. My dr told me that i have a mental illness and that i have no choice (which scared me and i ended up with a week of severe anxiety) but after reading your posting i decided to use his book in tandem with the program and i am confident i will remain medication free.
I must tell you that in spite of your own misery (which i hope is slowly diminsihing) you are a true inspirtation on this forum. Don't forget that we are out here to help if you need be.
take care

Hi Don,
I read the book by Burns years ago also. That and the Center are very helpful. Eating salmon also helps me.

Happy you are finding these sources helpful.

Regards,
Victoria