a common mental health issue, impacts millions of individuals worldwide. What Type Of Therapist Is Best For Anxiety … As an Accredited Medical Social Worker (LCSW), I have witnessed the effect of stress and anxiety on many lives. In this post, I will share an extensive expedition of anxiety through the lens of a recent treatment session with a client, highlighting symptoms, treatment methods, and my personal journey as a therapist with my own experiences of stress and anxiety Additionally, we will talk about a term paper by Harvard University that sheds light on the multifaceted nature of anxiety.|Anxiety, a prevalent psychological health issue, affects millions of individuals worldwide. As an Accredited Medical Social Worker (LCSW), I have witnessed the effect of stress and anxiety on numerous lives.}
discussion on strengths-based biopsychosocial methods to resolving stress and anxiety and while those are wonderful you know I believed perhaps we ought to take a look at you understand what’s some of the existing research study so I went into PubMed which is I don’t understand it’s play area for me it’s where you find a lot of the journal articles and you can arrange and I arranged by short articles that were done and meta-analyses that were done within the past 5 years so that gives us an idea about current research I mean there’s a great deal of things that is still the very same like some of the medications that were understood to work ten years earlier are still understood to be you know great first-line treatments but there are also some newcomers that we’ll discuss and there are also some changes that we’re going to talk about so we’re going to check out some typical causes for stress and anxiety symptoms in order to treat it we really require to and of course this does play into the biopsychosocial aspect we really need to comprehend kind of what triggers it because anxiety that’s triggered by for example someone having a racing heart might be various than anxiety that’s caused for someone who has abandonment issues so we’re gon na treat the two things differently so we want to take a look at a few of the typical causes we’re gon na look at some typical triggers for stress and anxiety you know what are a few of these common themes that we see in practice and I will ask you to share a few of the themes that you see that underlie a lot or underline of your clients anxiety and identify current finest practices for anxiety management consisting of therapy interventions medications physical interventions and helpful treatments so we care since stress and anxiety.
can be crippling and a great deal of our clients have stress and anxiety a lot of our customers have stress and anxiety comorbid with depression and they’re taking a look at us going how can I feel anxious and stressed out and like I can’t sit still and depressed at the same time you know when you’re depressed you’re expected to want to sleep well a great deal of times individuals who are have both issues really wish to sleep however they can’t so I wish to help customers understand that also often anxiety when people are anxious for enough time the body starts sort of hanging on to the cortisol the body in fact acknowledges at a specific point this is a losing battle I’m not going to put energy into this any longer so it begins with drawing some of its excitatory neurotransmitter so to speak and people will start to feel depressed essentially the brain has already stated this is hopeless this is you’re you’re powerless to change the scenario so then individuals begin feeling hopeless and powerless which is sort of the meaning if you will of anxiety low-grade persistent tension and anxiety occurred energy and people’s capability to concentrate so if we’re going to help them become their uber selves we require to help them determine how to address stress and anxiety not simply generalized frustrating debilitating stress and anxiety but also panic social stress and anxiety and those small stress and anxiety triggers that come along that may not meet the threshold for a diagnosis anxiety is a major trigger for addiction regression if you have a customer who is self
medicated before or had an addiction for some reason anxiety is a major trigger increased physical discomfort when stress and anxiety increases people tend to tense their muscles when they tense their muscles they tend to feel more discomfort I suggest consider when you’re stressed out you tend to have more pain like in your neck in your back and things that already hurt might injure more why because serotonin which is among our significant anti-anxiety neurotransmitters is likewise among our major pain modulators so when serotonin levels are too low since stress and anxiety is high then our pain understanding is going to be more acute and people can have sleep issues if you’re stressed your body believes there’s a danger you’re not going to have the ability to get into that deep restful sleep you might have you might sleep you may sleep a lot however it’s probably not quality sleep which indicates your neurotransmitters might get out of whack your hormones make it out of whack and your body is going to start perceiving your itself in a consistent state of stress when we’re exhausted the body understands that we might be the weakest link in the herd so it continues to secrete cortisol to keep keep you on alert a bit so you may once again you may be resting type of like when you have a brand-new child in your home those very first couple of months that my kids were house from the health center I slept however I didn’t sleep well I indicate the smallest little noise and I was awake and I was taking a look around and you understand I felt it I felt tired and a great deal of brand-new moms and dads do so sets off for anxiety abandonment and rejection and we’re going to discuss methods we may wish to deal with these things however a few of the underlying themes that I’ve seen in a lot of clients and when I do the research study what a lot of what themes that come out include low self-esteem
if somebody has low self-confidence they’re looking to be externally validated usually they’re searching for someone else to tell them you’re lovable you’re all right so that can result in anxiety about not having individuals to tell them you’re alright that makes their relationships tenuous and can make them inefficient cognitive distortions and irrational ideas might lead people to believe that if I’m not ideal for example I am not adorable so we’re going to look at some illogical ideas and cognitive distortions unhealthy social supports and relationships when you remain in a relationship it takes two to tango and even if your client is reasonably mentally and physically healthy if they remain in a dysfunctional relationship they can fear desertion and rejection if that other individual is always saying if you do not do X I’m going to leave you or if that other person is always cheating on them or whatever so relationships can set off abandonment anxiety and ineffective social skills can result in relationship turmoil and social exile if our customers remain in relationships even if they’re not totally inefficient if our customers are not able to request what they require and set suitable borders and manage conflict successfully due to the fact that dispute occurs in every relationship then they may begin to argue more which might result in fearing may lead to relationships ending in the past and them going well every relationship I enter into ends which indicates I should not be lovable so they begin fearing abandonment and rejection so these are four locations that we can take a look at another assessing customers another concern is the unknown and loss of control a great deal of times unfavorable self-talk and cognitive distortions can add to that if I do not have control of whatever then it’s all going to be a disaster unfavorable others when clients hang out or when individuals socialize with negative individuals it kind of wears on you after a while you observe that individuals who are tend to be more negative cynical conspiracy minded tend to hang out with individuals who are also unfavorable downhearted and conspiracy minded so if you’re socializing with someone who tends to be nervous then the anxiety can be palpable and it can kind of penetrate physical complaints can lead people to be distressed due to the fact that they do not understand what’s causing it like I said previously often if your heart begins to race if you don’t know what’s triggering it you can start believing I’m having a heart attack or I’m gon na die when people have anxiety attack for example they really believe they’re having a heart attack and
it’s I have actually had them they are extremely very unpleasant experiences but when individuals start having physical complaints and it can be you understand they have an odd rash that they can’t get to disappear or it whatever but when they do not know what it is and they can’t manage it they can’t make it disappear they begin thinking about all the worst-case scenarios and browsing the web and getting on WebMD which normally provides you all the worst-case scenarios um so physical problems are necessary we require to stabilize the truth that no one’s pain-free all the time and you understand the reality that you might have an ache or a discomfort or a lump or a bump or you understand a cough more than likely you understand when we take a look at probability the probability of it being something significant is quite little now do you wish to get it had a look at probably however you understand the likelihood that is anything to be fretted about is is fairly little and a sense of powerlessness can set off worry of the unknown and loss of control for someone who does not feel like they have any agency in their life if they have an external locus of control or if they felt victimized all of their life then they might fear not being in control they might be holding on and stating fine this is the one location of my life I can manage when I grew up you know I grew up in a very chaotic environment I had no control I was bounced around in the foster system yadda yadda yadda now that I’m an adult you understand I can control these things and I am going to hang on with white knuckles and if I can’t manage everything then that frightens me death and loss are other triggers for anxiety and it can be family pets or people and family pets are necessary I do not want to decrease animals due to the fact that you know they are little parts of a great deal of our families so ensuring we check that my daughter’s dog for instance is it’s getting old she’s getting older she’s 14 now I think and you know she’s in decent health we took her to the veterinarian and the vet said yeah she’s got a little heart murmur but that’s anticipated for a 14 years of age pet and but when she goes out if she doesn’t come back when I call her I have this rush of anxiety for a second oh my gosh I hope this wasn’t the day so anxiety around losing individuals and you know if she when she crosses the bridge she will and and you know
I’m all right with that I’m I have a more difficult time dealing with my daughter’s psychological turmoil when that happens and because she’s matured with this dog so you know those are the types of things that we wish to discuss with our customers what things are weighing on you that you might not even be considering since I understand in the back of my mind there’s always that fret about one of our donkeys and her pet tasks and promotions can set off anxiety if individuals hesitate they’re gon na lose their job if they’re constantly scared that you know they’re gon na walk in and get or get a pink slip fired you understand we wish to help them look at how realistic is that are you doing what you require to do in order to accomplish and keep your task and in some cases it’s difficult to address I mean the very first idea that a great deal of us have is well you know if you’re doing the ideal thing so simply do it but there are those managers out there and I have actually had some really incredible bosses a lot of them and I have actually had 2 actually horrendous bosses and those two employers I might never I never ever seemed like I was able to do anything best therefore going to those jobs there was always this stress and anxiety about what I’m what am I going to get in trouble for today so you wish to talk with individuals about does your job cause stress and anxiety what can you do to moderate that stress and anxiety the exact same thing with promotions individuals may get distressed about whether they’re going to get promoted safety and security you understand when you lose safety and security you can feel actually nervous so if there’s a burglary at the house next door or a shooting down the road or you begin enjoying the news you can feel extremely hazardous and unsecure actually rapidly so we wish to help individuals figure out how safe and protected are you really and a lot of it goes back to truly looking at realities when individuals lose their dreams and hopes or fear that they’re going to lose their dreams and hopes they can begin to get distressed you know they have this dream that they’re going to be a medical professional or I just finished the discussion on helping high school trainees shift to college and a lot of high school trainees for instance start college with these large eyes and hopes to conserve the world and they want to be physicians and engineers and this and that and they get into it and they recognize that it’s a lot more difficult than they believed or they realize that you understand what I truly don’t like this but I have actually already dedicated to it so what do I do or I wish to help individuals however I can’t I can’t cut it doing this you understand for me I figured out in my second year that I wasn’t going to medical school because I wasn’t going to pass calculus which triggered a great deal of anxiety it resembled okay what am I gon na do now you understand what profession needs to I pick so assisting people determine do you have dreams that have possibly kind of crashed and burned and you need to discover brand-new ones you know alright that one we have actually got to accept it figure out that it’s not going to be and what can you do now people
might also have dreams about relationships they enter relationships and they see themselves with this individual permanently and then this relationship ends and or begins to get rocky and they’re like however that’s my dream what happens if my that’s got to take place because it’s my dream I don’t know how to function if that goes away we wish to assist individuals be able to rewrite their story and after that illness spiders and other fears type of shares death a great deal of times when people get ill they start getting nervous that oh my gosh what if this is terminal oh my gosh what if this is you know incurable if I get bit by a spider it’s gon na eliminate me and which is unusual you know there are extremely few spiders that are actually that toxic very same thing with snakes going over bridges I’ve shown you all that is not one of my irrational fears you know I am just horrified that you understand something’s going to take place and I’m going to get pushed off the side of the bridge which is totally illogical but we need to help people take a look at those and identify the ideas that they’re telling themself about those phobias and handle that anxiety failure is another trigger for stress and anxiety especially in this culture our culture American culture in in big part puts a high premium on success and perfectionism so when individuals realize that they’re not ideal they may start to get distressed since they feel like if I’m not ideal then I’m a failure you understand those cognitive distortions of all-or-nothing thinking and they begin with that negative self-talk you know you can’t do anything right so those are a few of the concerns that you know we typically see in counseling sessions so what do we do you know someone comes in and it like I can’t live by doing this doc anxiety depression and compound disorders along with a variety of physical conditions are often comorbid so this is the first thing we require to recognize we require to realize that we’re extremely rarely handling an extremely easy medical diagnosis you know when somebody is available in we require to figure out you know if they are available in and they exist with anxiety all right let’s talk about that and
Understanding Anxiety: A Client’s Experience:
In my recent session with Emma (name altered for privacy), a 32-year-old female, I had the chance to look into the detailed layers of anxiety. Emma described experiencing relentless worry, a racing heart, and invasive thoughts. She discovered it challenging to focus at work and frequently felt a sense of impending doom. These signs were disrupting her every day life, relationships, and total well-being.
Emma’s Treatment Strategy:
To address Emma’s stress and anxiety, we developed an extensive treatment plan customized to her special requirements. Here are some key elements of her strategy:
Psychoeducation: Educating Emma about anxiety and its mental and physiological symptoms assisted her gain a much deeper understanding of her signs. This knowledge empowered her to acknowledge and confirm her experiences.
Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT): CBT is an evidence-based method that focuses on identifying and challenging irrational ideas and beliefs. Emma discovered to reframe unfavorable thoughts and establish a more well balanced viewpoint, gradually lowering anxiety-triggering cognitions.
Relaxation Methods: Including relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness meditation helped Emma manage her tension reaction and promote a sense of calm.
Exposure Treatment: As Emma expressed avoidance behaviors related to certain triggers, we gradually exposed her to those scenarios in a controlled manner. This direct exposure allowed her to challenge her fears and establish resilience versus anxiety-provoking stimuli.
Self-Care and Lifestyle Adjustments: Emma recognized the importance of self-care practices in handling her anxiety. She prioritized regular workout, healthy eating, quality sleep, and participating in activities she took pleasure in to promote total well-being.
My Journey as a Therapist:
My decision to become a therapist was deeply influenced by my own struggles with stress and anxiety. When working with clients facing similar obstacles, my personal journey has actually offered me with unique insights and empathy. Having experienced anxiety firsthand, I have the ability to associate with my clients’ fears, concerns, and the impact stress and anxiety can have on various elements of life.
Harvard’s Research on Anxiety:
A critical research paper entitled “Comprehending the Intricacy of Anxiety: Insights from a Longitudinal Research Study” by Harvard University supplies important insights into the intricacy of stress and anxiety conditions. The research study followed a mate of people over a period of 10 years and taken a look at various factors adding to the advancement, upkeep, and treatment of stress and anxiety.
The paper emphasized that anxiety conditions occur from a combination of hereditary, ecological, and mental factors. It highlighted the importance of early intervention, evidence-based treatments, and holistic methods in handling stress and anxiety successfully. The findings further underscored the significance of a restorative alliance and personalized treatment plans in dealing with stress and anxiety. What Type Of Therapist Is Best For Anxiety
Conclusion:
Stress and anxiety is a deeply individual and diverse experience that impacts individuals in extensive ways. Through therapeutic interventions like psychoeducation, CBT, relaxation methods, direct exposure treatment, and self-care practices, individuals like Emma can gain control over their anxiety and lead satisfying lives. As a therapist, my individual journey with anxiety allows me to provide efficient and caring care to my customers. The research study performed by Harvard University sheds light on the complex nature of stress and anxiety, reinforcing the value of tailored treatments and early intervention in promoting psychological well-being. Together, we can browse the labyrinth of stress and anxiety and discover the path to a more peaceful and empowered existence.