Hi Casey: The advice that you've posted is exactly the problem. I am not experiencing anything that I would consider a discernable problem. I've been doing thought records daily on the indifference that I experience toward my job, and how badly I want out of that job. I'm trying to focus mostly on self-care and relationship maintenance in my life outside my work, because there's no improving my job, and the things that I hate about it are still the things I hate about it whether depressed or indifferent. So I'm hoping that tracking my negativity toward my job will help lead me to a new job that has less things about it that I hate. Does this make sense?

Hi Starra, It’s important to keep in mind that by trying to keep Thought Records you’re trying to learn a new skill. Keeping Thought Records will not come naturally as they’re not something that people normally do. So, try to give yourself a break as you try to learn the technique. Over time you’ll find it easier to break down your experiences. Not being able to notice changes in your mood is a problem covered earlier in the program. Hopefully by now you’ll be able to notice variations in your mood. Keep in mind that it can be a change in your mood for better or for worse. Many people who are depressed say “I’m depressed all of the time - I could be doing Thought Records all day!” or “How do I decide when to do a Thought Record?” This is normal. You don’t need to do Thought Records all day long. If you take half an hour to do one Thought Record per day, you’ll be doing enough. You can do more if you like but try not to do less. If you’re going to do one per day, try to do one on a situation that resulted in a relatively big change in your mood. In your case when you are feeling so indifferent, you may want to look back on your day and try to think, “What’s the one thing that most affected my mood today?” and focus on that specific situation. Maybe it was something that someone said to you or something that you saw others doing. Like learning any new skill, learning how to keep Thought Records takes some time and practice. The first few often take quite a while to complete. However, the payoff is that after some time and practice you will have a much better understanding of the relations among your thoughts, feelings and behaviors. The following tips will help: Use a change in your mood as a signal to do a Thought Record In order to use Thought Records effectively you want to complete them when you notice a change in your mood. Any time you notice a change in your mood is a good time to do a Thought Record. Try to be as specific as possible Try to be as specific as possible in describing the events that resulted in a change in your mood. Describe the activating situation or interaction in detail (A) as well as your beliefs and thoughts about those events (B) and the consequences or your emotional response (feelings) (C). Think o

I think the point of the thought records is not to challenge the specific problem at hand, but learning how to flip an issue around to see the other side, in which case any issue could do. For instance, you're feeling frustrated or puzzled by the need to complete a task when life just took a sudden left turn and stopped throwing up all the negative you're used to. So couldn't that seem like a negative? (as in, "Here I am, ready to make progress and learn new skills and wouldn't you know it, life hands me this problem"). It's just an idea, I am sure others will have advice or ideas too. Ava

I'm now working on the Complete Thought Record (Week 5) and I'm having a problem. About a week ago my meds kicked in. I now display an almost depraved indifference toward the things that bothered me to no end 10 days ago. My mood does not change, even when challenged. I don't get anxious, depressed, angry, or frustrated. I don't feel much of anything, and pretty much just plod through my day, doing no more than is expected of me and doing a pretty good job of dealing with my angry and/or needy employees in a calm and patient way. How can I challenge my negative thoughts when my mood doesn't change? How can I challenge something that isn't happening? I'm really confused by this?