Anxiety and Anxiety Therapy

Also known as Worry Syndrome. People who have this condition suffer from extreme persistent fear and worry that something bad/catastrophic is about to happen to them or their loved ones. They worry excessively about their health, finances and many other life issues. They often worry about worrying and sometimes unable to find the cause of their worry. They always report feeling being “wired up”, “tensed up” or “unable to relax” all the time without any specific reason. They often report feeling unable to engage in their day to day tasks because they cannot concentrate.

Intense fear about certain objects or situations. For example Fear of Flying in an airplane, heights, spiders, lifts, etc. People who have fears or phobias avoid the situation completely, or they engage in certain behaviours called “Safety Behaviours” in order to make them feel safe in the situation. This is particularly incapacitating and distressing for some people due to the effect it is having on their lives.

Panic attacks are horrible feelings of sudden, intense, unprovoked terror and dread. People who experience panic attacks often become incapacitated because they are anticipating when and where the next attack will occur hence they are on constant alert for it. This often restrict their movement and functioning.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – This problem is characterised by uncontrollable, persistent intrusions of thoughts, images, feelings or urges (obsessions); in which the individual engages in routine, ritualistic behaviours (compulsions) in order to get rid of the initial intrusions. The rituals can be seen by others through physical behaviours like excessive washing of hands; or they can be unseen mental rituals like counting to specific numbers.

As the name implies, the individual suffers from extreme anxiety in a social context or situations where they are the centre of attention. For example giving a speech, at a party, talking in public. They are always focussed on their feelings with a perception that people can see their deficit in that situation.

Health anxiety is a form of anxiety whereby the individual is consistently convinced that they have a serious illness; or they may also be having fear of developing a a serious illness in the absence of medical proof. The person affected worries constantly about their health with fear that the medical investigations are getting things wrong. People with this problem research on the internet repeatedly every time they have a body sensation which they are concerned about. Often the physical sensations are real physiological sensations, but the problem is that they can be interpreted as evidence of a serious illness.

People who suffer with OCD – as it is called experience.

Anxiety Management strategies are usually a core component of Anxiety Therapy. If you are having any of the sub-type of anxiety described above, it is initially important that you understand yourself and the vicious cycle you are in. In Anxiety Therapy, your therapist will help you understand where it started and how it is maintained. Even though how and where anxiety starts are important, Anxiety Therapy helps you to focus on what is keeping it going now; and what specific CBT strategies you can start using to make changes which are unique to your own cycle.

There is no magic wand in Anxiety Therapy, you will have to commit yourself to practicing the strategies that your therapist will discuss with you. Most of these practicing and monitoring are done outside of the therapy session. The role of your therapist is to act as your guide towards your goals by giving and showing you the strategies to practice; and your role is to drive towards the goals by practicing outside of the therapy sessions. Practicing the strategies help you to create new habits that will hopefully become second to nature after your therapy sessions have ended.