Dr. Burns, I’m Hooked Now

Everyone should know Aqua and their song Doctor Jones.

Or should they?

Dr. Burns, specifically Dr. David Burns, the author of the popular book Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy would disagree citing multiple reasons.

Things like all-or-none thinking (Everyone should know…)and should statements (should know…) are some of the cognitive distortions that Dr. Burns lists in the book.

I’m making my way slowly through the book and I have to say I’m finding it helpful—helpful to understand what I’m going through with my depression and how severe, and deep-rooted it is.

I scored 74/100 in the Dr. Burns’ checklist. That’s the cusp between Severe (51-75) and Extreme (76-100) (read more here).

I was convinced that my partner J is also suffering from moderate to severe symptoms, but he came in at mild depression scoring 12/100.

I was/am shocked. Happy for him, but shocked that I’m so much further down than I thought I was.

So here’s my little ditty:

Dr. Burns, Dr. Burns
Calling Dr. Burns
Dr. Burns, Dr. Burns
I’m hooked now

Why don’t I invite you to try the book out yourself?

The full list of cognitive distortions is below; read more about it here:

1. All-or-None Thinking
2. Over-generalization
3. Mental filter
4. Discounting the positive
5. Jumping to conclusions
   1. Mind-reading
   2. Fortune-telling
6. Magnification
7. Emotional reasoning
8. “Should” statements
9. Labeling
10. Personalization and blame