| Many strides have been taken in curing anxiety | | | | example. This knowledge alone can help towards |
| disorders, but so far there are more people with this | | | | minimizing fear and anticipation of the symptoms |
| condition who had found relief from their symptoms | | | | associated with anxiety. |
| through Cognitive Behavior Therapy. This kind of | | | | 2. With the knowledge that his anxieties are natural, he |
| therapy considers the interplay of thoughts, emotions | | | | can look at the triggering factors of his anxiety more |
| and behavior. In other words, its main principle is we | | | | objectively. The therapist will assist him go through a |
| are what we think, and our thoughts affect the way | | | | process of identifying which among these factors are |
| we feel and behave. | | | | real or imagined, which are valid representations of |
| The heart of cognitive behavioral therapy lies in | | | | reality or distorted images brought about by false |
| identifying negative thoughts and distorted beliefs of an | | | | beliefs, misinformation or fear. |
| individual that contribute to his experience of anxieties. | | | | 3. The therapist will then help the patient realize that a |
| It examines the way we behave and react in certain | | | | reasonable amount of anxiety is necessary to conduct |
| situations based on these negative patterns of thought. | | | | one's responsibilities. Anxiety can cause a sense of |
| It emphasizes that it is a person's perception of his | | | | urgency, because it is produced by the same hormone |
| situation and not the external factors such as people | | | | that is responsible for the "fight or flight" body |
| and events that can determine his feelings. | | | | response to stress, danger or threats. |
| Here are other important elements of Cognitive | | | | 4. The patient will be encouraged to channel his |
| Behavior Therapy that you may need to understand | | | | excessive anxieties into something more productive, |
| before you or someone you know undertake this kind | | | | for example being alert during an emergency or being |
| of therapy to cure anxiety disorders. | | | | inspired to create a speech that is compelling, when |
| 1. The patient will be constantly reminded that anxiety is | | | | asked to face a social situation. A healthy dose of |
| not by itself an abnormal state of the mind. In fact, the | | | | anxiety can keep us alert and even creative in finding |
| symptoms associated with anxiety are the body's | | | | solutions to everyday problems. |
| natural response to a perceived threat or danger. | | | | 5. The therapist also helps patients to make their |
| What makes it alarming is when these symptoms | | | | anxieties work for them, rather than against them. It |
| occur for no reason at all, or at inappropriate times. | | | | also allows the person to be more analytical to see |
| A certain comfort comes to the patient in the simple | | | | the validity of his thoughts that create the fear and |
| knowledge that his anxieties are not a sign of a more | | | | anxiety in his mind. |
| serious mental disorder such as schizophrenia, for | | | | |