Welcome

I decided to start this blog as a way to share some of what I've learned about the nature of human suffering and its alleviation. I'm doing this mostly with an eye on anxious suffering, and my experience with a new approach to psychological health and wellness called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (or ACT, said as one word). I won't claim to have all the answers. My intent is to share.

Acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches are changing the landscape of psychology, mental health care, medicine, and society. They are based on a very old and radical idea, namely, that a good deal of human suffering is fed by efforts to struggle with and avoid our own psychological and emotional pain. New research from many sources now shows that this war tends to amplify our pain, takes enormous effort, doesn't work very well, and can keep us stuck and suffering.

So, what's the alternative? The alternative is this: paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, without judgment, with a quality of kindness and compassion (self and other), and with both eyes on living out your values, right here, right now. These are skills that we all can learn and many studies show that people who learn them report more vitality, less illness, better quality of life, and greater freedom too.

Instead of more struggle, we learn to open up to our experience just as it is (not as our minds say it is), to hold our thoughts more lightly, to connect with our values (what we care about in this life), and to carry our minds, bodies, and personal history forward into a more vital and valued life. This set of very simple ideas goes against just about everything we've learned, at least in the West, since kindergarten. That's why they can be so powerful!

We are all in the same soup. Pain, in all its forms, is part of the human condition. Yet, that pain -- whether physical, emotional, psychological -- need not be fed and allowed to mushroom into the suffering that takes over and shrinks lives. There are ways to douse the flames that feed needless suffering -- the spin off that our mind and old history creates -- and to live well with the pains, joys, and sorrows that are part of life. This is where I think ACT can help.

Peace -john

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

A New Workbook Study Comparing ACT and CBT


Hi Everyone

I just wanted to share some news.

Some of you know that we've been doing a study testing the The Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety and to see whether and how it may be helpful for people who are struggling and suffering with anxiety-related difficulties. The response to this project has been amazing -- over 500 people from more than 25 countries around the world. Sometime before the year is out we'll be positioned to share the results of this project. So, stay tuned.

I'm writing now to alert you and those you may know and love to a NEW workbook project that we just got underway. This new study compares two approaches to helping people who suffering with anxiety -- one based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (or ACT, said as one word, not three letters) and the other based on more traditional Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT). The workbooks we are comparing in this project are (a) our Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety (based on ACT) and (b) the Cognitive and Behavioral Workbook for Anxiety (based on traditional CBT).

If you are interested in being part of this study, you'll need to see if you are eligible and also you'll need to be willing to receive one of the workbooks mentioned above and work with the workbook your receive, along with doing some online assessments.

We have a study website where you can find more information about this new project and how to sign up. The study site is at www.ACTforAnxiety.Com.

Look for the icon on the main page with the image of the two workbooks together and click on that to take you to the new project.

The study is really for people who have not started using the workbooks (see above), and in fact, we offer folks who are willing and eligible to participate, a free copy of one of the workbooks as part of the project.

Now, I'm asking that you help us spread the word around the internet and the world. We know that 1 in 4 adults in the United States alone suffer from anxiety disorders. These numbers are staggering. It doesn't have to be this way. There are effective treatments. We hope you will help us find out how how we can better address this larger problem of human suffering. And, we appreciate you helping to spread the word about this project.

Thank you.

With a Kind Heart,

John P. Forsyth
Posted by at

4 comments:

JaJa@SlieZa2711 said...

Good Research......

October 11, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Tina said...

Do you think ACT may be useful in treating other mental health issues? Specifically, I'm wandering if it could help people with bipolar disorder.

December 8, 2009 at 4:19 PM
anxiety attacks said...

There are so many people that get affected with anxiety and they don't realize that there are various treatments and cures for their problem. Thanks for sharing.

February 16, 2010 at 11:17 PM
Heidi said...

I feel very encouraged by this ACT work for anxiety and look forward to doing this work. One thing: I just tried to sign up for the study and get a message that the study is currently closed. (The website does note you are no longer taking int'l participants, but I am in the U.S.). I'd love to participate.

February 24, 2010 at 9:37 AM

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