Plenty has been written and researched about how distraction (sequential variety) rather than rumination (baaaa) can reduce symptoms of depression, at least in the short term. It’s all a little bit CBT for my liking, but it has to be said that hammering out cartoons and webcomics whilst holding down a full time job is as distracting (and fun!) as it comes.
Perhaps the magic wand is something for the therapist’s toolkit after all.
Further reading:
- What is distraction? [web link]
- Self care: Distraction, activities and creativity [web link]
- Rethinking Rumination Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, Blair E. Wisco and Sonja Lyubomirsky [Full PDF]
- Decentring and distraction reduce overgeneral autobiographical memory in depression E. Watkins,” J. D. Teasdale and R. M. Williams [Full PDF]
- Ruminating and Distracting: The Effects of Sequential Tasks on Depressed Mood – Peter C. Trask and Sandra T. Sigmon [Abstract]
- Rumination and executive function in depression: An experimental study – E Watkins, RG Brown [Full PDF]
- Adaptive and maladaptive self-focus in depression – E Watkins, JD Teasdale [Full PDF]
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photosbysarahjean
/ September 3, 2012I love it