Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a Green Day concert during which the band played the hit song “Basket Case.” Before I go any further, and strictly as a matter of subjective opinion, Green Day put on a magnificent show. In any case, lyrics of “Basket Case” include:
[Verse 1]
Do you have the time to listen to me whine
About nothin’ and everything all at once?
I am one of those melodramatic fools
Neurotic to the bone, no doubt about it
[Chorus]
Sometimes, I give myself the creeps
Sometimes, my mind plays tricks on me
It all keeps adding up
I think I’m cracking up
Am I just paranoid?
Am I just stoned?
Through the lens of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), in particular the ABC model, I recognize the process of self-disturbance addressed in the song. Principally, this unhelpful cognitive experience involves a Belief-Consequence (B-C) connection.
REBT illustrates how when Activating events (“Actions”) occur and people maintain irrational Beliefs about the events, these unhelpful assumptions – and not the actual occurrences – are what create unpleasant cognitive, emotive, bodily sensation, and behavioral Consequences.
Notably, there are four predominate irrational beliefs which people use: demandingness, awfulizing, low frustration tolerance, and global evaluations. Addressing these, the ABC model incorporates Disputation of unhelpful assumptions in order to explore Effective new beliefs.
From a psychological standpoint, people disturb themselves using a B-C connection. Of course, this isn’t to suggest that in the context of the naturalistic or physical world there’s no Action-Consequence (A-C) connection.
As an example, if a person partakes in illicit substances (Action), depending on one’s tolerance level and other biological factors, the individual may experience hallucinations and paranoid thinking (Consequence). From an A-C perspective, substances can impact cognitive functioning.
Still, if after experiencing substance-induced paranoia (Action) a person unhelpfully Believes about the event, “This is an awful experience and I can’t stand giving myself the creeps,” then the individual will likely disturb oneself into a frightened disposition (Consequence).
Thus, the B-C connection is responsible for non-substance-related neurosis described in “Basket Case.” For context, it may be worth addressing what neurosis is. The American Psychological Association defines the term as follows:
Any one of a variety of mental disorders characterized by significant anxiety or other distressing emotional symptoms, such as persistent and irrational fears, obsessive thoughts, compulsive acts, dissociative states, and somatic and depressive reactions. The symptoms do not involve gross personality disorganization, total lack of insight, or loss of contact with reality (compare psychosis).
In psychoanalysis, neuroses are generally viewed as exaggerated, unconscious methods of coping with internal conflicts and the anxiety they produce. Most of the disorders that used to be called neuroses are now classified as anxiety disorders.
Anxiety disorders, anxiousness, and neurotic beliefs are all correlated with irrational beliefs. In the book Creative Marriage, the authors state of these unproductive assumptions (page 22):
As Dr. Karen Horney, among others, frequently pointed out, should’s, supposed to’s, ought’s, and must’s are the inevitable equipment of disturbed individuals. The neurotic particularly believes that (a) he himself should act in a perfectionistic, wholly moralistic way and that (b) everyone else also should behave in this idealistic manner.
I appreciate how the authors of Creative Marriage simplify the definition of neurosis by stating that it represents “stupid behavior by non-stupid people” (page 23). While ignorance relates to a lack of knowledge, stupidity concerns unintelligent decisions when one knows better.
In regard to “Basket Case,” describing oneself as “one of those melodramatic fools” relates to one who sensationally appeals to emotions (consequences) associated with neurotic or stupid beliefs. Per the authors of Creative Marriage, such individuals should all over themselves and other people.
Perhaps you’ve known someone who unhelpfully demands your “time to listen to [them] whine about nothin’ and everything all at once.” In marital relationships, unresolved neurotic beliefs of this nature result in unpleasant consequences which relate to shoulding behavior.
“I feel uncomfortable in my body and feel unpleasant emotions, so I should seek comfort and resolution to my feelings from my spouse,” an individual may unproductively believe, “and if my spouse doesn’t provide relief, then [s/he] is an awful person!” Sound familiar?
If “it all keeps adding up” and you think you’re “cracking up,” perhaps REBT may be of some use to you and your spouse. Although I see only individuals for psychotherapy, the tools you’ll learn may improve your relationship with others. I’m available if you’d like more information.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Neurosis. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/neurosis
APA Dictionary of Psychology. (2018, April 19). Psychosis. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/psychosis
Cookie_studio. (n.d.). Close-up of insecure scared redhead man in glasses biting fingernails frightened [Image]. Freepik. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/close-up-insecure-scared-redhead-man-glasses-biting-fingernails-frightened_10403084.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=26&uuid=d302bc34-3339-492b-979b-bd139f357720
Ellis, A. and Harper, R. A. (1961). Creative Marriage. The Institute For Rational Living, Inc. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/creative-marriage-e184052310.html
Green Day. (2009, October 26). Green Day - Basket Case [Official music video] (4K upgrade) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/NUTGr5t3MoY?si=Rrl7sXMHK2wCywg5
Hollings, D. (2024, August 7). Awfulizing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/awfulizing
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Hollings, D. (2024, April 2). Four major irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/four-major-irrational-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better
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Hollings, D. (2023, May 18). Irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/irrational-beliefs
Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2022, December 2). Low frustration tolerance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/low-frustration-tolerance
Hollings, D. (2022, May 19). Mind tricks. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mind-tricks
Hollings, D. (2023, October 2). Morals and ethics. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/morals-and-ethics
Hollings, D. (2024, June 3). Neurosis. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/neurosis
Hollings, D. (2024, May 30). Nobody’s perfect. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/nobody-s-perfect
Hollings, D. (2024, April 22). On disputing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-disputing
Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist
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Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance
Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Sensation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/sensation
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Hollings, D. (2023, May 12). Stop shoulding everywhere. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/stop-shoulding-everywhere
Hollings, D. (2022, November 9). The ABC model. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-abc-model
Hollings, D. (2022, December 23). The A-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-a-c-connection
Hollings, D. (2022, December 25). The B-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-b-c-connection
Hollings, D. (2024, September 17). The E-C connection. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-e-c-connection
Hollings, D. (2024, September 12). Touching grass with Smashing Pumpkins. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/touching-grass-with-smashing-pumpkins
Hollings, D. (2022, August 8). Was Freud right? Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/was-freud-right
Hollings, D. (2023, July 7). When idealism doesn’t stack up to realism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/when-idealism-doesn-t-stack-up-to-realism
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Green Day. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Day
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Karen Horney. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Horney
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