| Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be the leading | | | | that disturb them, analyze those factors rationally, and |
| choice for treatment of many forms of anxiety at this | | | | learn specific techniques and concepts for defusing |
| point. It has been shown to be as effective as | | | | them when they crop up. Homework and reading |
| prescription medications in the treatment of panic | | | | assignments are an essential part of the process and |
| disorder and phobias, and also shows great promise | | | | are key to making CBT a relatively short-term, |
| for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder and | | | | time-limited treatment. |
| post-traumatic stress disorder. However, it is no | | | | Homework and techniques commonly used in CBT |
| "wonder drug" or miracle solution. Cognitive behavioral | | | | include maintaining a diary of events and the feelings, |
| therapy for treating anxiety disorder, is a fairly complex | | | | thoughts and behaviors they trigger; asking questions |
| process that always requires active participation | | | | and challenging the patient's faulty or unrealistic |
| continued commitment and by the patient, as well as | | | | perceptions and beliefs; learning to overcome |
| the guidance of a knowledgeable teacher or therapist | | | | avoidance and confront challenging situations and |
| in most cases. | | | | activities; training in relaxation, mindfulness and |
| To start with, cognitive behavioral therapy is not one | | | | distraction techniques. |
| thing, but rather a general term for a number of similar | | | | Exposure therapy and desensitization are basic |
| but distinct therapies, such as Rational Emotive | | | | features of most CBT for anxiety disorders. Once the |
| Behavior Therapy, Rational Behavior Therapy, Rational | | | | client and therapist have identified the anxiety triggers |
| Living Therapy, Cognitive Therapy, and Dialectic | | | | and their associated thoughts and feelings, they work |
| Behavior Therapy. | | | | to break the response pattern by recreating or |
| One thing all these therapies share, however, is the | | | | evoking those events and feelings under controlled |
| belief that what controls our feelings and behaviors is | | | | conditions. It is essential to begin by teaching relaxation |
| actually our thoughts-not external things, like people, | | | | techniques, meditation, or breathing exercises that will |
| situations, and events. And if we can change the way | | | | enable the patient to control their fearfulness and |
| we think, we can feel better and react differently even | | | | anxiety during the exposure process. Gradual |
| if external factors do not change. The therapist's role is | | | | habituation leads the patient to deal through low levels |
| to teach clients how to recognize and challenge their | | | | of stimulation and then builds up until he or she is no |
| own irrational and self-destructive beliefs and | | | | longer sensitive to the former triggers. |
| consciously correct them. | | | | CBT is a deeply empowering technique, which is one |
| CBT is an educational process, which holds that to the | | | | reason it is so effective in treating anxiety-related |
| extent that emotional and behavioral reactions are | | | | disorders. Understanding the relation between your |
| learned, they can be unlearned. The goal of therapy is | | | | mental and physical symptoms and knowing that you |
| to help clients unlearn unwanted reactions and replace | | | | possess tools and techniques to manage those |
| them with new ways of reacting to stress and anxiety | | | | symptoms can significantly reduce anticipatory |
| triggers. | | | | anxiety-which is often the key difference between |
| CBT therapists focus on teaching rational | | | | occasional bothersome but essentially normal episodes |
| self-counseling skills. Counseling sessions rely on | | | | of anxiety or even panic, and a full-blown debilitating |
| conversation and structured questioning to help | | | | chronic anxiety disorder. |
| patients identify the specific thoughts and situations | | | | |