a prevalent psychological health concern, affects countless individuals worldwide. Color Therapy For Anxiety And Depression … As an Accredited Medical Social Worker (LCSW), I have actually witnessed the impact of anxiety on countless lives. In this post, I will share an extensive expedition of stress and anxiety through the lens of a recent therapy session with a patient, highlighting signs, treatment methods, and my personal journey as a therapist with my own experiences of anxiety In addition, we will discuss a research paper by Harvard University that clarifies the diverse nature of stress and anxiety.|Stress and anxiety, a prevalent mental health concern, impacts millions of individuals worldwide. As a Certified Medical Social Employee (LCSW), I have experienced the impact of anxiety on countless lives.}
presentation on strengths-based biopsychosocial approaches to attending to stress and anxiety and while those are wonderful you understand I believed maybe we should look at you know what’s a few of the existing research study so I entered into PubMed which is I do not know it’s play ground for me it’s where you discover a great deal of the journal articles and you can sort and I arranged by articles that were done and meta-analyses that were done within the past 5 years so that provides us an idea about existing research I imply there’s a lot of things that is still the very same like some of the medications that were known to work 10 years ago are still known to be you know great first-line treatments however there are likewise some newbies that we’ll discuss and there are likewise some modifications that we’re going to discuss so we’re going to check out some typical causes for stress and anxiety signs in order to treat it we truly require to and of course this does play into the biopsychosocial element we truly require to comprehend kind of what triggers it due to the fact that stress and anxiety that’s triggered by for example somebody having a racing heart might be various than anxiety that’s triggered for somebody who has abandonment problems so we’re gon na treat the two things in a different way so we want to look at a few of the typical causes we’re gon na take a look at some common triggers for anxiety you know what are a few of these typical themes that we see in practice and I will ask you to share a few of the styles that you see that highlight or underlie a lot of your customers anxiety and determine present best practices for anxiety management including therapy interventions medications physical interventions and encouraging treatments so we care because stress and anxiety.
can be incapacitating and a great deal of our customers have anxiety a great deal of our customers have anxiety comorbid with depression and they’re looking at us going how can I feel distressed and stressed out and like I can’t sit still and depressed at the same time you understand when you’re depressed you’re supposed to wish to sleep well a great deal of times people who are have both problems actually wish to sleep but they can’t so I want to assist clients understand that also often anxiety when people are anxious for enough time the body begins sort of holding on to the cortisol the body really recognizes at a certain point this is a losing fight I’m not going to put energy into this anymore so it starts with drawing some of its excitatory neurotransmitter so to speak and people will start to feel depressed essentially the brain has currently stated this is hopeless this is you’re you’re powerless to alter the scenario so then individuals begin feeling defenseless and hopeless which is sort of the meaning if you will of anxiety low-grade chronic tension and stress and anxiety developed energy and individuals’s ability to concentrate so if we’re going to help them become their uber selves we need to help them determine how to resolve stress and anxiety not just generalized overwhelming devastating stress and anxiety but also panic social anxiety and those minor stress and anxiety activates that come along that may not meet the threshold for a diagnosis anxiety is a major trigger for addiction relapse if you have a customer who is self
medicated prior to or had an addiction for some reason anxiety is a major trigger increased physical pain when anxiety goes up people tend to tense their muscles when they tense their muscles they tend to feel more pain I suggest think about when you’re stressed you tend to have more discomfort like in your neck in your back and things that already injured might hurt more why because serotonin which is one of our significant anti-anxiety neurotransmitters is likewise one of our significant pain modulators so when serotonin levels are too low because stress and anxiety is high then our pain understanding is going to be more acute and people can have sleep issues if you’re stressed out your body thinks there’s a hazard you’re not going to be able to enter into that deep peaceful sleep you may have you might sleep you may sleep a lot however it’s probably not quality sleep which means your neurotransmitters may get out of whack your hormones make it out of whack and your body is going to start perceiving your itself in a relentless state of tension when we’re exhausted the body understands that we might be the weakest link in the herd so it continues to secrete cortisol to keep keep you on alert a little bit so you might again you might be resting type of like when you have a new baby at home those first number of months that my kids were house from the health center I slept however I didn’t sleep well I mean the smallest little sound and I was awake and I was looking around and you understand I felt it I felt tired and a great deal of new moms and dads do so triggers for anxiety desertion and rejection and we’re going to discuss methods we may want to handle these things however some of the underlying styles that I’ve seen in a lot of customers and when I do the research study what a great deal of what styles that come out include low self-confidence
if somebody has low self-confidence they’re seeming externally validated often they’re looking for somebody else to tell them you’re lovable you’re all right so that can lead to stress and anxiety about not having individuals to tell them you’re fine which makes their relationships rare and can make them inefficient cognitive distortions and illogical ideas might lead individuals to believe that if I’m not ideal for example I am not adorable so we’re going to take a look at some irrational ideas and cognitive distortions unhealthy social assistances and relationships when you remain in a relationship it takes two to tango and even if your client is fairly mentally and physically healthy if they are in an inefficient relationship they can fear desertion and rejection if that other person is always saying if you do not do X I’m going to leave you or if that other individual is constantly cheating on them or whatever so relationships can set off desertion stress and anxiety and ineffective interpersonal skills can result in relationship turmoil and social exile if our customers are in relationships even if they’re not totally dysfunctional if our clients are unable to ask for what they require and set proper limits and manage conflict successfully due to the fact that dispute takes place in every relationship then they may begin to argue more which may cause fearing may result in relationships ending in the past and them going well every relationship I get into ends which indicates I need to not be adorable so they begin fearing abandonment and rejection so these are 4 locations that we can take a look at one more assessing clients another concern is the unknown and loss of control a lot of times unfavorable self-talk and cognitive distortions can add to that if I do not have control of whatever then it’s all going to be a catastrophe unfavorable others when clients hang out or when individuals hang out with negative individuals it type of wears on you after a while you discover that individuals who are tend to be more negative cynical conspiracy minded tend to socialize with individuals who are likewise unfavorable pessimistic and conspiracy minded so if you’re hanging out with someone who tends to be nervous then the anxiety can be palpable and it can sort of permeate physical problems can lead individuals to be nervous since they don’t know what’s triggering it like I said previously in some cases if your heart begins to race if you do not understand what’s causing it you can start thinking I’m having a cardiovascular disease or I’m gon na pass away when people have panic attacks for example they really think they’re having a heart attack and
it’s I have actually had them they are extremely really unpleasant experiences but when people start having physical complaints and it can be you understand they have an unusual rash that they can’t get to go away or it whatever however when they don’t know what it is and they can’t manage it they can’t make it go away they start thinking about all the worst-case situations and browsing the web and getting on WebMD which generally provides you all the worst-case situations um so physical complaints are essential we need to stabilize the fact that no one’s pain-free all the time and you understand the fact that you may have an ache or a pain or a lump or a bump or you know a cough probably you know when we take a look at possibility the probability of it being something substantial is quite small now do you want to get it had a look at probably but you know the probability that is anything to be worried about is is relatively small and a sense of powerlessness can activate worry of the unknown and loss of control for somebody who does not feel like they have any agency in their life if they have an external locus of control or if they felt taken advantage of all of their life then they might fear not remaining in control they may be holding on and saying okay this is the one location of my life I can manage when I grew up you know I grew up in a very chaotic environment I had no control I was bounced around in the foster system yadda yadda yadda now that I’m an adult you understand I can manage these things and I am going to hang on with white knuckles and if I can’t control everything then that horrifies me death and loss are other triggers for stress and anxiety and it can be family pets or people and pets are important I don’t want to lessen family pets due to the fact that you know they are little parts of a lot of our families so making certain we inspect that my daughter’s dog for instance is it’s getting old she’s aging she’s 14 now I believe and you know she remains in decent health we took her to the veterinarian and the veterinarian stated yeah she’s got a little heart whispering however that’s expected for a 14 years of age pet dog and however when she heads out if she does not return when I call her I have this rush of anxiety for a second oh my gosh I hope this wasn’t the day so stress and anxiety around losing people and you understand if she when she crosses the bridge she will and and you understand
I’m alright with that I’m I have a more difficult time dealing with my child’s emotional chaos when that happens and due to the fact that she’s grown up with this canine so you understand those are the kinds of things that we wish to speak about with our customers what things are weighing on you that you might not even be thinking of because I understand in the back of my mind there’s always that stress over among our donkeys and her pet dog jobs and promotions can trigger stress and anxiety if people hesitate they’re gon na lose their job if they’re always afraid that you understand they’re gon na stroll in and get a pink slip or get fired you understand we wish to help them look at how reasonable is that are you doing what you need to do in order to achieve and keep your task and sometimes it’s hard to answer I imply the very first idea that a great deal of us have is well you understand if you’re doing the ideal thing so just do it however there are those employers out there and I have actually had some actually incredible bosses a great deal of them and I’ve had 2 actually horrendous managers and those 2 managers I could never I never ever seemed like I was able to do anything best and so going to those jobs there was always this stress and anxiety about what I’m what am I going to get in trouble for today so you wish to talk with people about does your task cause anxiety what can you do to moderate that stress and anxiety the exact same thing with promos people might get nervous about whether they’re going to get promoted security and security you know when you lose safety and security you can feel actually distressed so if there’s a burglary at your home next door or a shooting down the road or you start enjoying the news you can feel unsecure and really unsafe truly rapidly so we wish to help individuals figure out how safe and secure are you really and a lot of it goes back to truly looking at realities when people lose their dreams and hopes or fear that they’re going to lose their dreams and hopes they can start to get anxious you know they have this dream that they’re going to be a physician or I simply ended up the presentation on assisting high school students shift to college and a lot of high school trainees for instance start college with these broad eyes and intends to save the world and they want to be doctors and engineers and this and that and they enter it and they recognize that it’s a lot harder than they thought or they realize that you understand what I actually do not like this but I have actually currently committed to it so what do I do or I want to assist individuals but I can’t I can’t cut it doing this you understand for me I determined in my second year that I wasn’t going to medical school due to the fact that I wasn’t going to pass calculus which caused a lot of stress and anxiety it resembled alright what am I gon na do now you understand what career must I pick so helping people figure out do you have dreams that have maybe kind of crashed and burned and you need to discover brand-new ones you know alright that one we have actually got to accept it determine that it’s not going to be and what can you do now people
might likewise have dreams about relationships they get into relationships and they see themselves with this individual permanently and after that this relationship ends and or starts to get rocky and they resemble but that’s my dream what occurs if my that’s got to take place since it’s my dream I don’t understand how to operate if that disappears we want to assist individuals be able to rewrite their narrative and then illness spiders and other fears type of shares death a lot of times when individuals get ill they begin getting anxious that oh my gosh what if this is terminal oh my gosh what if this is you understand incurable if I get bit by a spider it’s gon na eliminate me and which is rare you understand there are very few spiders that are really that poisonous exact same thing with snakes reviewing bridges I have actually shared with you all that is not one of my irrational worries you understand I am just frightened that you know something’s going to take place and I’m going to get pushed off the side of the bridge which is totally unreasonable however we need to assist people look at those and recognize the ideas that they’re informing themself about those phobias and deal with that anxiety failure is another trigger for anxiety especially in this culture our culture American culture in in big part puts a high premium on success and perfectionism so when people realize that they’re not ideal they may begin to get anxious due to the fact that they feel like if I’m not best then I’m a failure you understand those cognitive distortions of all-or-nothing thinking and they start with that negative self-talk you understand you can’t do anything right so those are some of the problems that you understand we typically see in therapy sessions so what do we do you know somebody can be found in and it like I can’t live by doing this doc anxiety depression and compound conditions along with a series of physical disorders are often comorbid so this is the first thing we require to realize we need to realize that we’re extremely hardly ever handling an extremely easy diagnosis you know when somebody comes in we need to figure out you understand if they come in and they exist with anxiety all right let’s speak about that and
Comprehending Stress And Anxiety: A Patient’s Experience:
In my current session with Emma (name altered for privacy), a 32-year-old lady, I had the chance to dive into the detailed layers of stress and anxiety. These signs were interfering with her everyday life, relationships, and overall wellness.
Emma’s Treatment Plan:
To attend to Emma’s anxiety, we established a detailed treatment strategy tailored to her unique requirements. Here are some crucial elements of her plan:
Psychoeducation: Educating Emma about anxiety and its physiological and psychological symptoms helped her gain a deeper understanding of her symptoms. This knowledge empowered her to acknowledge and validate her experiences.
Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment (CBT): CBT is an evidence-based method that focuses on identifying and challenging irrational thoughts and beliefs. Emma found out to reframe negative thoughts and establish a more well balanced viewpoint, slowly minimizing anxiety-triggering cognitions.
Relaxation Strategies: Integrating relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness meditation helped Emma control her stress response and promote a sense of calm.
Direct exposure Therapy: As Emma expressed avoidance behaviors related to specific triggers, we slowly exposed her to those circumstances in a regulated manner. This exposure enabled her to confront her worries and develop durability against anxiety-provoking stimuli.
Self-Care and Way Of Life Modifications: Emma acknowledged the importance of self-care practices in handling her stress and anxiety. She prioritized regular exercise, healthy eating, quality sleep, and engaging in activities she took pleasure in to promote overall wellness.
My Journey as a Therapist:
My choice to become a therapist was deeply influenced by my own struggles with stress and anxiety. When working with clients facing comparable obstacles, my individual journey has actually supplied me with special insights and empathy. Having actually experienced anxiety firsthand, I have the ability to associate with my clients’ fears, worries, and the effect stress and anxiety can have on different elements of life.
Harvard’s Research on Stress and anxiety:
An influential research paper entitled “Understanding the Intricacy of Anxiety: Insights from a Longitudinal Research Study” by Harvard University provides valuable insights into the intricacy of anxiety conditions. The study followed an associate of people over a period of ten years and examined numerous elements contributing to the advancement, maintenance, and treatment of stress and anxiety.
The paper emphasized that stress and anxiety disorders develop from a combination of genetic, ecological, and psychological aspects. It highlighted the value of early intervention, evidence-based treatments, and holistic approaches in managing stress and anxiety effectively. The findings even more highlighted the significance of a healing alliance and personalized treatment plans in addressing anxiety. Color Therapy For Anxiety And Depression
Conclusion:
Anxiety is a deeply personal and complex experience that affects people in profound methods. Through healing interventions like psychoeducation, CBT, relaxation techniques, exposure therapy, and self-care practices, people like Emma can gain control over their stress and anxiety and lead fulfilling lives. As a therapist, my personal journey with stress and anxiety allows me to provide compassionate and efficient care to my customers. The research conducted by Harvard University clarifies the intricate nature of anxiety, enhancing the importance of tailored treatments and early intervention in promoting mental well-being. Together, we can browse the maze of stress and anxiety and discover the course to a more peaceful and empowered existence.