SLBMI
Anxiety Disorders Center>> How
We Can Help>> Cognitive
Behavior Therapy
Cognitive
Behavior Therapy (CBT)
The
primary goal of cognitive behavior therapy is to identify
and modify thoughts, feelings, and behavior that interferes
with a desired outcome in life. Each individual's therapy
is unique; however, there are common components in Cognitive
Behavior Therapy treatment of an Anxiety Disorder. Education
about a particular Anxiety Disorder and how it is interfering
in key areas of life must be addressed first. Treatment
may begin by addressing "readiness" issues
or "treatment interfering behaviors". New
learning and planned steps to accomplish desired behavior
change are developed with the patient. Anxiety management
skills and behavioral skills are a key component of
treatment.
CBT
targets the specific fears, perceptions, coping, and
emotions that maintain an Anxiety Disorder. The following
chart gives an overview of treatment components.
- A
feared stimulus can be any number of things such as:
an object, a place, a thought,
a feeling, an idea, a desire, a number, etc.
-
Physiological arousal, genetic predisposition, past
experiences, repeated stress, etc. can create a perception
about the feared stimulus.
-
Physiologic arousal of anxiety and fear become paired
with the feared stimulus.
-
Avoidant behavior or rituals to relieve anxiety from
the feared stimulus temporarily
relieves the anxiety and fear, reinforcing the avoidant
behavior.
An
Anxiety Disorder can occur when fear and anxiety disrupts
everyday life, limits one's ability to work, socialize,
perform, go to school, restricts a person's emotional
and physical mobility. An untreated or under treated
Anxiety Disorder can diminish quality of life and severely
limit one's ability to freely participate in their life.
Combinations
of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and guided gradual.
Exposure/Response Prevention (ERP) are utilized to provide
a corrective learning experience.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy for the Treatment of Anxiety
Disorders
Click here to contact the Anxiety Disorders Center
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