Worried or nervous at times is a completely normal reaction to situations that stress you out. However, for people who have anxiety disorders, these feelings aren’t temporary. The anxiety is persistent, possibly even worsening over time.
This can severely decrease a person’s functionality at school or work or in social situations. It can also affect people’s relationships with their friends and family. Fortunately, therapy can greatly improve symptoms of anxiety or even treat it.
Understanding anxiety
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, around 18% of adults and 25% of adolescents in the U.S. experience anxiety. There are multiple forms of anxiety disorders such as:
· Generalized anxiety disorder: characterized by consistent worry and anxious feelings, this disorder makes people have a general feeling that something bad is always going to happen. They always worry about things like finances and health problems.
· Panic disorder is known for recurring panic attacks with symptoms including trembling, sweating, and a rapid heart rate. These attacks come without warning can make people afraid of when they might hit.
· Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) develops after an individual has experienced severe emotional or physical trauma such as crime or a natural disaster. Symptoms can interfere with people’s everyday routines for innumerable months or years, such as traumatic flashbacks and nightmares.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Even though there is a wide variety of anxiety disorders, their underlying processes are similar. People undergoing this disorder are easily overwhelmed and have extremely negative reactions to unpleasant situations and feelings.
Psychologists use CBT to teach patients how to cope with their anxiety in healthier ways by identifying and managing the factors contributing to it. Patients can understand how their own thoughts are contributing factors to the symptoms of their anxiety. They can reduce the probability of getting intense anxiety symptoms by learning to change their thought patterns.
Behavioral therapy
In the behavioral component, people who experience anxiety disorders learn different techniques to help reduce undesirable behaviors. They are also encouraged to take part in situations and activities that provoke their anxiety. These could be things like being in enclosed spaces or taking part in public speaking.
It helps them learn that the outcomes that they’re so afraid of, such as having a panic attack or stuttering, are unlikely. Group therapy can be a good method of treating anxiety for multiple patients as well as supporting them.
Mental health services for managing anxiety
Stem Wellnesshas highly experienced mental health therapists that can help you manage anxiety in a healthy manner. We understand how difficult it can be to have important aspects of your life get disrupted by anxiety and will try our best to make breakthroughs to lead a better life. Our services include psychotherapy counseling using CBT and EFT, marriage or relationship counseling, individual therapy, and family therapy in New Jersey.
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