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It Is Written

John Bradshaw

Clearing the Fog: Understanding Depression

Coming up next, please stay tuned for It Is Written, presented by Pastor John Bradshaw.

Depression and anxiety continue to be major problems in First World nations.

Around the world it appears, in fact it very much is, that depression and rates of depression is getting worse and worse.

The solutions that have been proffered to the world over the last several decades?

Simply aren't making a dent in the problem.

It's just that the solutions aren't really solutions My guest today is Dr.

Neil Nedley, who for 25 years has been successfully treating people whose lives have been upended by depression and anxiety.

And you've been treating depression, as we've discussed before, I would say naturally.

You're not against medication, but you have found natural treatments.

When you started treating depression the way you're treating it now.

Did you hear much criticism or did you hear any criticism of your methods from a society that was predisposed towards very different methods?

Now it wasn't as much as I thought I might because I went to the medical literature and was looking at all of the 100 plus causes of depression and anxiety, and I was working on reversing those.

So those causes had already been largely elucidated before I came to it, and now I was just reversing those causes.

But the fact that I was not a board certified psychiatrist, I was internal medicine, which is adult diseases with the internal organs, the brain is included in that.

It just wasn't the right type of professional I think they were thinking that might revolutionize depression and anxiety treatments.

So we did get some criticism on what is this internal medicine doctor doing treating severe forms of depression and anxiety?

But they couldn't argue with the results.

Yeah, what are they saying 25 years later?

Actually, there's no controversy at this point They are very much.

Everyone is fact it's seen our scientific results seen our published studies in the scientific literature, and the evidence is now overwhelming that what we are doing is indeed the best therapeutic approach for depression and anxiety.

Depression and anxiety of the very nature are conditions of the mind.

Therefore, I want you to tell me, you wrote a book called The Lost Art of Thinking.

What does thinking have to do with depression?

And I guess my question really is, what do thoughts have to do with depression?

And in fact, our thoughts become like highways in the brain, particularly if they're repetitive thoughts.

And some studies have shown that depressed and anxious people, 80% of their thoughts are negative, and 95% of their thoughts are repetitive.

And so those repetitive negative thoughts, we call them NATs, negative automatic thoughts, become like highways in the brain.

And that's 1 of the reasons why simply biochemistry alone can't cure depression.

We take a very prominent role in helping the brain's biochemistry to be able to change those thoughts.

But then we actually have to be intentional in analyzing our thoughts for distortions and getting rid of thoughts that are not helpful or simply not accurate.

And that takes some work, And it's why a combined approach of biochemistry plus a good cognitive behavioral therapist is paramount in really producing the results that we get.

But 1 thing I think I want to point out, and that is, I think everybody can relate to how some thoughts are just automatic.

When I see that guy, when I see that guy, I just, you know, when I get in my car, I just think of, or when I find myself in the shower, I think this way, or when I'm at my desk, There are a lot of automatic thoughts, and I don't know exactly why that is.

I think it's just years of practice and years of repetition.

Is it true that people find themselves on autopilot often when it comes to their thoughts?

You know, in fact, a lot of people that come to our program, you know, we don't deal with the thoughts right off the bat.

We're dealing with behavioral and lifestyle issues first.

But by about day 3, we have to start getting into the thoughts.

And they say, my problem are not with my thoughts.

You know, this is, you know, they don't think thoughts are necessarily real per se But yes, their problem is also with their thoughts and on the surface, they think those thoughts are true and accurate, but as we dig deeper, as we get to the core, they can start seeing that their thoughts actually are irrational, unhelpful.

And with that negative aspect of things is actually dragging them down even in their ability to flourish and function.

What are some of those typical thoughts or thought patterns that the people you see on a clinical basis are typically wrestling with?

Well, 1 of the distorted areas of thinking is what we call emotional reasoning and an emotional reasoner will say this, I feel overwhelmed and helpless therefore my problems are impossible to solve.

I feel angry at you, and that proves that you've been cruel and insensitive to me.

So emotional reasoning is at an all-time high.

We feel a certain way, and thus we conclude those things are true in the way we're feeling.

Feelings come and feelings go and feelings are deceiving.

Many thoughts that we have and many feelings that we have are actually based on distortions and thinking.

Okay, so I've got a neighbor who plays his music loud and his dog runs all over my yard and he's inconsiderate.

I mean, he's a turkey, and he's making my life hard.

So why would I change the way I think about that?

And so you understand very well the typical person coming into our program.

And of course, they will have a tendency to blame others or things about themselves that they cannot change and think that they are actually victims.

Now in regards to that neighbor, we would start asking some questions.

Has the neighbor ever done anything for you?

Could it be that he's not even really aware that he's doing those things to you?

And have you ever thought about maybe having the right conversation in the right way to help mitigate on some of those things that are really bothering you.

Thoughts and how they are related to depression, it's very real.

If it doesn't affect you, no question It severely affects somebody that you care about, somebody who is close to you.

And how does thinking God's way liberate us and prepare us for heaven?

We'll discuss that and more when we come back in just a moment.

With economic instability, interpersonal challenges, and the use of social media on the rise, rates of depression and anxiety have skyrocketed.

Call now for your free copy of Finding Lasting Healing for Depression and Anxiety and learn helpful and practical methods that have been scientifically proven to benefit mental health.

Nedley has been treating people successfully, people suffering with debilitating depression and anxiety.

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Clearing the Fog: Understanding Depression

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