Overcoming Teenage Low Mood and Depression: A Five Areas Approach

Overcoming Teenage Low Mood and Depression uses the trusted Five Areas model of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) to help young people experiencing low mood or depression to help themselves. The Five Areas model communicates life skills and key interventions in a clear, pragmatic, and accessible style, by examining five important aspects of our lives: Life situation, relationships, resources and problems Altered thinking Altered feelings or moods Altered physical symptoms or sensations Altered behaviour or activity levels This exciting collection of practical and effective self-help workbooks has been developed in liaison with a team of experts working with young people. The course provides access to the proven CBT approach, and addresses all the common challenges faced during times of low mood, helping readers make positive changes in their lives in a planned and achievable way. A final workbook is aimed at friends and relatives and describes how to offer support. The workbooks also provide an invaluable resource for school teachers, counsellors, general practitioners, nursing staff, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, youth workers, and self-help groups and other voluntary sector organisations. A linked and completely free online support course is located at www.livinglifetothefull.com with additional resources at www.fiveareas.com.

Understanding Why I Feel as I Do. Why Bother Changing? Doing Things that Make Me Feel Good. Using Exercise to Boost How I Feel. Helpful Things We Do. Unhelpful Things We Do. Restarting Things We’ve Avoided. Practical Problem Solving. Noticing and Changing Extreme and Unhelpful Thinking. Being Assertive. Building Relationships. Overcoming Sleep Problems. Alcohol, Drugs, and Me. Understanding and Using Anti-Depressant Medication. Planning For the Future. Ideas for Families and Friends: How Can I Offer the Best Support?