Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy

By David D. Burns

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ (0.0)

The clinically proven drug free treatment for depression

A groundbreaking guide to overcoming mental health challenges with the power of cognitive therapy.

Why This Book?

Anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts are issues many people struggle with, and the best part is that they can be efficiently combated with automatized and ordinary practice based on science. Feeling in control of oneself changes the whole perception of life, there's so much to accomplish and live for. The book written by David D. Burns titled “Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy" will definitely help one get over a struggle faced with a pronounced focus on managing mental health with ease and putting their thoughts into control. With practical advice rooted in psychological research, it empowers readers to regain control of their emotions and improve their quality of life.

This book could be of help to:

People struggling with anxiety or even depression.
Individuals looking for measures that can help them improve their mental health.
Readers interested in exploring CBT and its effectiveness as an emotional support.

One-sentence summary: This book is a comprehensive guide to improving your mood by reshaping how you think, using science-backed strategies from cognitive-behavioral therapy.

About the Author

David D. Burns, M.D., born on September 19, 1942, is an American psychiatrist renowned for his work in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). He earned his M.D. from Stanford University School of Medicine in 1970 and trained under Dr. Aaron T. Beck, a pioneer of CBT.

Burns has authored several influential books, including “Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy”, “The Feeling Good Handbook”, “When Panic Attacks”, and “Feeling Great: The Revolutionary New Treatment for Depression and Anxiety”. His work has significantly contributed to popularizing CBT techniques for treating depression and anxiety. Burns also developed the Burns Depression Checklist, a widely used tool for assessing depression severity.

Book Overview

Publication Details	Publication Year: 1980 (revised editions available) Publisher: Avon Books
Focus area	The book explores how negative thinking patterns fuel depression and anxiety and demonstrates how to overcome them through CBT techniques. It focuses on identifying and changing cognitive distortions, fostering self-compassion, and building emotional resilience.
Format Availability	Available in paperback, audiobook, and Kindle versions.

Publication Details

Publication Year: 1980 (revised editions available)
Publisher: Avon Books

Focus area

The book explores how negative thinking patterns fuel depression and anxiety and demonstrates how to overcome them through CBT techniques. It focuses on identifying and changing cognitive distortions, fostering self-compassion, and building emotional resilience.

Format Availability

Available in paperback, audiobook, and Kindle versions.

Key Themes and Insights

“Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy” is a revelational work filled with tremendous insights which is rooted in the principles of cognitive behavioral. These principles work in the right direction and ensure that the reader of the book has full control over his/her thoughts, emotions and actions. The author explains with clarity the direct link between emotions, thought and action allowing the reader to centralize their efforts to control what they think and feel instead of focusing on their actions.

Cognitive Distortions: Burns introduces the concept of cognitive distortions, which are habitual ways of thinking that skew perception and fuel negative emotions.
The Power of Thought: The book emphasizes that our emotional states are directly influenced by our thoughts. By identifying and challenging negative thought patterns, we can reshape how we feel and behave.
Practical Tools: Burns provides numerous tools to help readers apply CBT concepts, such as,the daily mood log, which helps track negative thoughts and identify patterns. The cost-benefit analysis, a tool for assessing the validity of negative beliefs.
Medication Alternatives: Burns explores how CBT can be as effective as antidepressants in managing mild to moderate depression, offering hope to those seeking non-pharmacological solutions.

This blend of theory and practical application makes the book a go-to resource for improving emotional resilience and mental health.

Practical Applications

The remarkable strength of Feeling Good, The New Mood Therapy book is the applicable advice it offers. It serves as a practical manual in one’s dayto-day activities. Dr. Burns offers some tools and exercises to the readers which they can fit into their day to day schedules. Some of the key applications are:

Daily Mood Logs: It brings your thoughts and feelings to a single point to find out what areas of negative thinking you are falling into. It identifies the thoughts that lead you to feel depressed or anxious.
Challenging Cognitive Distortions: it reframes cognitive distortions such as overgeneralization or ‘black or white’ beliefs with designated techniques. It adopts more moderate and healthy beliefs to replace the bad ones.
Behavioral Activation: Work towards meaningful goals even with baby steps so as not to evoke an overwhelming feeling of being at rest.
Preventative Strategies: Design habits for a positive self-image such as journaling every day or practicing mindfulness.

Carrying out these tools can enable the readers to actively change their thought patterns which can help them in dealing with emotional disturbances and enable them to acquire mental toughness.

Strengths of the Book

Clear and Accessible Writing: Dr. Burns explains complex psychological concepts in an easy-to-understand manner.
Actionable Tools: The exercises make it more than just a book—it’s a practical manual for mental health.
Scientifically Backed: Grounded in well-researched principles of CBT.
Empowering: Encourages self-reliance and resilience.

Critique and Limitations

Dense Content: Some readers may find the abundance of information overwhelming.
Dated References: Since the original publication was in 1980, some examples may feel outdated.
Not a Substitute for Therapy: While helpful, the book may not be sufficient for individuals with severe mental health challenges.

What Made This Book Popular?

Sales Success: A long-standing bestseller in the self-help and mental health categories.
Critical Praise: Widely endorsed by therapists and mental health professionals.
Reader Impact: Overwhelmingly positive reviews from readers who credit the book with transforming their lives.
Cultural Influence: Pioneered the public awareness of CBT, influencing both mental health professionals and individuals seeking self-help.

Comparison with Similar Books

“Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy” by David D. Burns is highly distinguishable from other mental health niche books such as The Happiness Trap published by Russ Harris which centers around employing ACT strategy. While traditional CBT focused self help tools have always proved effective in some areas but Harris encourages mindfulness, Dr. Burns offers structured self help practitioners redirect their thought patterns.

Who Should Read This Book?

Beginners exploring mental health concepts.
Individuals experiencing mild to moderate depression or anxiety.
Therapists seeking client-friendly tools for CBT.

Conclusion

“Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy” is a powerful resource for anyone looking to improve their emotional well-being. With its practical tools, clear explanations, and transformative insights, it is a must-read for individuals navigating depression, anxiety, or negative thinking.