Anxiety problems are one of the most common psychological problems among the population, and it is estimated that they are present in the form of an anxiety disorder in approximately 5% of the population in Western countries.
That is why, for decades, psychologists have dedicated a good part of our work to developing and applying effective anxiety treatment methods.
Throughout this article we will see, in summary, how anxiety is treated in psychotherapythe different ways in which psychologists help patients who present this kind of discomfort.
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state that is expressed in various ways, although all of them have something in common: it appears as an anticipatory reaction to possible sources of danger or risk of losing something.
It is a phenomenon present in all healthy individuals and which in most cases is adaptive (that is, useful for our ability to survive by adapting to the environment), but which can sometimes be involved in psychopathologies or even physical illnesses. .
In fact, Anxiety is associated to a greater or lesser extent with many psychological disorders. that appear in the most used diagnostic manuals. However, sometimes the anxious component is so central to the appearance of psychopathology that it is considered to be its main driver. In these cases we talk about anxiety disorders.
The most important anxiety disorders are the following:
On the other hand, other disorders closely linked to anxiety are Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and addictions. In all these cases, The problem or a good part of it has to do with the behavioral patterns that the person adopts to alleviate the discomfort. of anxiety; Strategies that work more or less in the short term, but make the situation worse in the medium or long term.
For example, in the case of spider phobia, the fact that we have become accustomed to fleeing quickly when encountering these animals will make us more accustomed to this type of reaction in us, and the anticipatory anxiety will be greater. Something similar happens in all disorders associated with anxiety, because they are based on the anticipation of what will happen.
How is it treated in therapy?
These are the key ideas to understand how anxiety treatment occurs.
1. It is a gradual process
There are no magic solutions that will eliminate anxiety problems overnight. The psychotherapeutic process lasts between several weeks and several months.and requires consistency in carrying out sessions with the psychologist.
2. You have to face what generates anxiety
All forms of therapy to overcome anxiety are based on “learning” ways to deal with what makes us feel anxious, without letting it take control of our actions. Therefore, It involves getting used to enduring a certain level of discomfort or emotional discomfort for a few minutes.although psychologists supervise and help to make this easier.
Many times, part of what keeps the anxiety disorder alive is a dysfunctional belief system, which give more reasons to experience that state of alert and anticipation. In psychotherapy, the context is created for patients to question these preconceived ideas.
4. There are routines that help manage anxiety
On the other hand, There are a series of prevention measures that help patients be prepared to adequately deal with moments when anxiety rises a lot. These have to do with maintaining a good state of physical and mental health, on the one hand, and learning some techniques to learn to relax at key moments, on the other.
Tools used in psychotherapy to overcome anxiety
These are the main therapeutic resources used to treat anxiety problems.
1. Systematic desensitization and similar methods
Systematic desensitization is a series of procedures that aim help the person get used to what causes anxiety, facing it to associate it with a state of calm or neutral emotionality. These are done following an ascending difficulty curve, so that patients can progress from the easiest experiences to the most anxiety-inducing ones.
There are a series of similar intervention modes that also have this objective, the most important being controlled exposure and EMDR therapy.
2. Cognitive restructuring
Cognitive restructuring is a series of techniques belonging to cognitive-behavioral therapy, which aim to Help patients let go of maladaptive beliefs and who are participating in the maintenance of the disorder.
3. Mindfulness
Mindfulness consists of a psychological state characterized by directing attention to the present, observing it from a perspective of acceptance of imperfections.
It is inspired by ancient meditation practices, although it does not have the religious implications of the latter, and is used for therapeutic purposes in various contexts: psychotherapy, work environment in companies, sports, etc. Among other things, helps to get rid of psychological rumination, that is, invasive ideas or thoughts and disturbing things that appear in our consciousness again and again.
4. Relaxation techniques
Relaxation techniques aim to make anxiety dissipate through practices that modify the state of the body from an emotional and physiological point of view. The best known are Jacobson’s controlled breathing techniques and progressive muscle relaxation.
Are you interested in having professional help for anxiety?
If you are suffering from a problem related to anxiety and are looking for professional help, at Cepsim Psychological Center We invite you to contact us.
Our team of psychologists has training, experience and mastery of the most effective techniques and methods to treat a wide variety of psychological disorders: work stress, relationship problems, phobias, generalized anxiety, trauma and post-traumatic stress, relationship problems , and more. We serve both at our headquarters located in Madrid and through the online modality.
To see more information about Cepsim Psychological Center, you can visit this page.
