Some days, anxiety seems inescapable. Somehow, it attached itself to you, and you can’t seem to shake it. There are rough days and good days, but when anxiety hits, it hits hard. Here are 5 ways that CBT helps anxiety.
1. Identify and Challenge Negative Thoughts
Individuals suffering from anxiety can have very negative thought patterns. Even the conversations they may have internally may swing towards more negative than positive, which can create a sense of more anxiety.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps to identify and challenge those negative thoughts that you may be struggling with. A therapist will work with you to help you determine if your thoughts could actually happen or if it’s a fear you have. Once these negative thought patterns are identified and challenged, a therapist will work with you to replace them with more positive thoughts.
2. Makes Life More Manageable Again
Anxiety can start to impact someone’s life in a number of different ways. It can affect your mind, body, and behavior. A therapist will work with you to get to the root cause of your anxiety and help you work through how you can cope in a more manageable way moving forward. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps individuals get their lives back on track again.
3. Overcoming Fears
It’s common for individuals who are afraid or fearful of something, someone, or someplace to experience anxiety. For example, you may feel a little anxious before going to the doctor or dentist. Maybe you have an upcoming vacation that you’re excited about, but you feel a little hesitant about being in an airplane. You may even feel nervous about attending a concert and having to be around and talk to so many people.
Some individuals may be able to work through their anxiety and deal with their fears. Others may need a little extra help to get there (and that’s okay)! A therapist can work with an individual one-on-one to gradually face their fears.
4. Helps to Face Places, People, and Things that You May Be Avoiding
Many individuals who suffer from anxiety may avoid things that may be a potential trigger for them. This can actually lead to their symptoms getting worse. Avoiding a potential trigger won’t help make the fear any better. It will make you more fearful of whatever you try to avoid. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a great way to try to gain a more positive experience and approach to any potential triggers. Changing that perspective is all it takes sometimes to reframe that way of thinking.
5. Increases Confidence and Self-Esteem
Anxiety, when left untreated, can get worse over time. It can even start to impact someone’s confidence and self-esteem negatively. Comparing yourself to your family, friends, or coworkers can be easy. If you have anxiety, you may even wonder why they can handle certain situations better than you. Keep in mind that each person is different, and you may not actually know how they’re feeling despite how they may be presenting themselves. The grass is always greener, right? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a great way to help challenge those negative thought patterns and give you healthier ways to cope moving forward.
Next Steps
Anxiety is a completely normal emotion to feel every now and then. If you’re starting to notice that your anxiety isn’t going away, then it may be time to reach out for additional support.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most widely used treatment options for anxiety disorders. You’re not alone, and your anxiety doesn’t define you. There’s no shame in reaching out for help.
Reach out to us today to set up a consultation to learn more about CBT and how it can help you with anxiety treatment.
