Emotions can be extremely difficult to deal with. Whether positive or negative, the control it can have on making you feel like you’re living in the present moment can be hard to understand. And facing hard emotions can make it feel impossible to live through the difficult moments in the present.
Rather than fighting negative emotions, there are ways to work through intrusive thoughts, depression, anxiety, and other common mental health concerns. Here’s an overview of how acceptance and commitment therapy can help.
What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Acceptance and commitment therapy emphasizes accepting and moving forward from things you cannot change. It encourages an increased commitment to constructive, healthy activities that uphold your values and treatment goals.
There are six main components of this type of therapy, including:
- Acceptance
- Cognitive defusion
- Self as context
- Being present
- Values
- Commitment
These stages enable someone to learn how to face their negative emotions in the present moment and healthily cope with them. This type of therapy can be extremely beneficial for people struggling with any of the following:
- Anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Stress
- Psychosis
- Depression
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Substance use disorders
What Are the Benefits of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?
Several benefits can come from doing acceptance and commitment therapy. It helps address and embrace people’s thoughts and feelings when they are beneficial to set them aside.
Some benefits of acceptance and commitment therapy include:
- Psychological flexibility
- Living a healthier, more meaningful life
- Improving various mental health conditions
- Focusing on personal values to guide behavior
These benefits allow people to understand the complexity of their emotions while empowering them to cope with them in a healthy method. People who do this therapy typically see a benefit in their overall mental health.
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