Anxiety is a common and treatable condition. Effective psychological treatments are available even if you have been experiencing anxiety for a long time. The most appropriate treatment depends on the nature and severity of your anxiety and your personal preferences and circumstances.
Therapy starts with a detailed assessment. The assessment looks at the experiences of anxiety you are having. The probability of genetic and developmental factors is considered, as are your current living circumstances. These may include work, financial and interpersonal stress. Internal sources of anxiety of which you may or not be aware. These include identifying psychological conflicts, such as desiring two outcomes that oppose each other and understanding how these conflicts affect your thoughts and behaviours.
A further aspect of anxiety treatment is acquiring science-based knowledge about all aspects of anxiety. The more you understand anxiety, the more effective you will be in managing it. This facet of therapy is called psycho-education. It covers understanding anxiety’s causes and its effects on the mind and body. It also involves obtaining the knowledge, skills, and tools to manage anxiety symptoms. In summary, when you are equipped with accurate information, practical strategies, and skills, you will be better positioned to take control of your anxiety and live a more fulfilling life.
Psycho-education is closely linked to structured and direct forms of therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). These therapies are generally short-term. They focus on identifying and efficiently dealing with unhelpful negative thought patterns and behaviours contributing to anxiety. These therapies are all skill-based. The skills and practices will help you to acquire coping strategies and relaxation techniques. The training includes safely confronting anxiety by learning to accept and regulate it without engaging in destructive and unhelpful avoidance behaviours.
MBSR is an outstanding practice that, once mastered, will significantly reduce your stress and anxiety. The exercises literally retrain your brain to function in a more present focus and less judgemental manner. As a result, you will be less distressed when experiencing anxious thoughts and feelings.
I recommend some sessions of hypnotherapy as another effective treatment for anxiety. I use hypnotherapy in conjunction with the other forms of therapies discussed above.
During hypnotherapy for anxiety, I will guide you into a state of deep relaxation, known as a trance, where your mind is more open and receptive to suggestions. I will also use positive affirmations, visualizations, and relaxation exercises to help you overcome your anxiety.
Hypnotherapy will help you identify and change negative thought patterns and beliefs contributing to your anxiety. It can accelerate the uptake of coping skills and relaxation techniques that you can use daily to manage your anxiety.
In summary, in my practice I propose the integration of a combination of therapies well supported by psychological research as likely be the most effective treatment for anxiety.
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