HOW CAN PSYCHOTHERAPY HELP TREAT ANXIETY?
Therapy is a powerful method for treating symptoms of anxiety and it targets the underlying factors that give rise to anxiety and contribute in prolonging the distress.
One highly effective approach to treating anxiety is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT focuses both on the thoughts, as well as behaviors that cause and exacerbate symptoms of anxiety disorders. The “behavioral” piece targets how our body reacts to stress and worry. The “cognitive” piece of CBT targets the beliefs and statements about ourselves.
Anxiety is a reaction. It is how we react to worries and uncertainties in life. Anxiety can manifest as muscular tension, a racing heartbeat, difficulty breathing, chest discomfort, sweating, or abdominal pain. The more physical discomfort we experience, the more we worry about our health and about the stressors that are affecting our health. The more we worry, the more our body reacts with more discomfort. This vicious cycle can make it difficult to feel confident and hopeful. We will practice techniques that will help you teach your body to relax. We will then identify your negative thoughts, we will find ways to challenge them, and, most importantly, we will develop new ways to think about yourself and others. We work to replace the anxiety provoking thoughts with more realistic and supportive thoughts.