Dr. David Burns

Yeah. Okay. You want Rhonda to hit you with that?

Yeah.

And the fact that you're depressed today proves it. Say that.

Great. Yeah, great job, folks. And now I know that Rhonda version of you, you beat her down. But you're not going to be able to beat me down because you see the fact is that you are hopeless. And the fact that you've slipped back and you're feeling down now proves that. And I didn't want to upset you or anything, but I just want you to know that you're going to be hopeless.

You're going to feel like this for the rest of your life. And you know it. You can feel it.

Great. Who won that one?

Big or small?

Yeah, right. And part of the problem was that you agreed to something. Maybe I will be hopeless for the rest of my life, but I can still function as a hopeless, pathetic, miserable creature. And it wasn't exactly the same as joy and happiness. So let's try a rule reversal. You hit Rhonda first and then hit David. You be the negative and we'll be the positive.

No, just two, big or small.

You want to hear another version? That was a beautiful version. You want to hear a different style? That sounds great. Hit me with it.

Yeah. And you're a philosopher and I'm sure you'll tell it like it is to sock it to me, big guy.

Okay, well, thank you for reminding me of that. I can always count on you when I'm lonely to get on my shoulder and say some nasty things in my ear. But the fact is I'm not at all hopeless. I have felt like that on times, and I've felt joyous at times, and my feelings change all the time, just like everyone's feelings change. But I have a much bigger problem than hopelessness. What's that?

Listening to your bullshit. Cut the F up. Yeah.

Yeah. And it's just a little different style. And that's called the counterattack technique. And it's just intended to remind ourselves that the problem is never some...

scar on my face from my acne or the fact that I'm having a bad mood or that I lost a weight lifting competition or whatever but it's our thoughts and it's talking to ourselves in a really mean spirited way like here's another one let's do the double standard Joshua I'll be a clone of Joshua and a dear friend of yours, but I look like you. I went to all the same schools.

I'm the same, you know, exactly the same, but a different person. Could I talk to you for a minute, Joshua? Yeah, of course. Right now, I'm feeling down and kind of hopeless. What would you say to me? Does that mean I am hopeless and I'll be hopeless for the rest of my life?

Now, is that true, or are you just bullshitting me to try to make me feel good? I like what you're saying, but is that absolutely true?

It's absolutely true that I won't be feeling this way all the time?

Oh, awesome. I like that.

Okay, let's do the last two, and then we'll be out of here. It's your turn, Rhonda.