Anxiety

 

Anxiety is the body's natural reaction to stress. Everyone feels anxious at certain times of danger or in worrying situations. In some circumstances anxiety is useful. It prepares you for action and enables you to respond quickly if necessary. Moderate amounts of anxiety can improve your performance, but when anxiety interferes with everyday life, such as occurring in the wrong situations or preventing you from doing the things you want to do, it can be particularly distressing. For many people, a day of worrying can be more exhausting than a day of work.

What triggers Anxiety?

The actual trigger for anxiety might be a real or an imagined threat. For example a person who is fearful of public speaking would feel panicky as they stood up to give a presentation to a room full of colleagues, but they might feel just as afraid if they believed  they might have to stand up and give a presentation without warning.

How can I reduce my Anxiety?

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommends Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), as one of the treatment approaches used to tackle anxiety and panic disorder.

CBT therapists understand the experience of anxiety as being often linked to the balance of different ways of thinking:

  • Overestimating the likelihood of an event occurring
  • Overestimation the cost/awfulness of an event
  • Underestimating how you may cope with the situation
  • Underestimating rescue factors - such as how other people would help you.

The more likely or the more awful a threat is perceived as being, the greater the anxiety. This anxiety may however be lessened by the appraisal of one's coping abilities and/or the possibility of help.

CBT therapists work with clients to control their anxiety by (a) examining what we think and tell ourselves when we are anxious and then changing any unhelpful thoughts (b) modifying behaviour which increases personal anxiety (c) understanding how the body reacts to anxiety and stress and (d) teaching relaxation techniques. This approach can be particularly effective for reducing personal anxiety and stress levels - which is especially relevant for many people given the current economic climate.