Lessening Worry Through Therapy
Unfortunately, many of us feel as if we are on the verge of
burnout. We feel as if we have to worry about our children, our
jobs, and our relationships. At times, we may feel as if we are
spinning out of control. It is as if we are engaging in a high
wire act without a net. We become frustrated and angry with
ourselves because we don't think we're achieving our potential.
We can literally become lost in a sea of worry.
At one time, seeking therapy for such feelings of anxiety would
have been considered socially unacceptable. A few decades ago,
many people considered therapy to be an indulgence. Mental
health counseling had an incredible stigma attached to it.
However, today we see celebrities including Brooke Shields, Anne
Heche, Marie Osmond, and Jane Pauley who speak openly about
seeking counseling for their problems. Cognitive Behavior
Therapy is no longer considered the domain of the crazy and the
weak.
Therapy can come in a variety of forms. It can involve
face-to-face counseling, self-help books, CDs, and online
forums. It has been said that there are as many as 100 therapy
programs on the market today. These programs share some common
traits. First, they assess how the individual is thinking and
identify any disruptions in thought patterns. It is important to
get these thoughts out into the open in order to deal with them
effectively.
Second, the programs attempt to figure out an individual's
basic beliefs and whether these beliefs are founded on reliable
principles. Say, for instance, you become anxious about flying.
Through talk therapy, it is determined that this fear can be
traced back to your concerns about your grandmother, who once
had an unpleasant flying experience en route to Oklahoma. You
might have been worried about your grandmother's safety and
that, in turn, has led to an irrational fear of flying.
The next step is to gather evidence in order to combat negative
thinking. For instance, you might look for a statistic
indicating how many crashes a given airline has during a year.
When you discover how infrequently accidents occur, your belief
that flying is dangerous may be thrown out the window. The one
sure-fire way to fight negative thinking is to counteract it
with reliable facts.
Another technique you can use to combat anxiety is to develop
coping mechanisms. In other words, in order to not let your
worry get the best of you, you might try prayer and meditation,
exercise, dancing, reading a good book, or soaking in a hot tub.
You should keep a list of relaxation techniques handy so that
you can turn to them any time you are feeling particularly
stressed out.
You will have to get into the habit of relaxation. This can be
quite difficult, especially for those with high-stress jobs. You
may even consider taking a class in relaxation techniques. Once
you utilize these techniques, you are likely to find yourself
better able to concentrate...better able to manage your
feelings...and better able to cope.
Literally millions of people have been assisted through
cognitive behavioral therapy. While herbal remedies and
prescription medications can alleviate symptoms, they do not
address the root causes of anxiety. Until we begin to think
positively, we cannot hope to attack the crux of our anxious
feelings. How do you find the therapist that's right for you? To
begin with, consult some of your trusted friends. Chances are
someone in their families has been to a counselor within the
past six months. You'll want someone who is easy to talk to,
with whom you can share your innermost thoughts and feelings. If
you try a therapist and you feel uncomfortable, by all means
switch to someone else. Sometimes, finding the right counselor
is a matter of trial and error.
Going through therapy can be a tough experience. You may have
to delve into areas that you find to be uncomfortable. But it
can be highly rewarding in the end. You may find that you gain
greater insight into your thought patterns, that you are better
able to communicate effectively, and that you are feeling much
less anxious. There is no reason to apologize for undergoing
therapy. Seeking help is actually a sign of strength.