Anxiety is an issue that affects everyone, but some more than others. People who have experienced severe trauma, undergone extended periods of high stress, and dealt with physical or emotional abuse are more likely to deal with anxiety triggers long after the events have moved into the past. Several psychological disorders center around anxiety, and all make it difficult to live a normal life.
Undergoing therapy for an anxiety disorder, no matter what it is, helps you find your way out of the disorder that results in an anxiety or panic attack. Read on to learn more about some of the ways therapy can help.
Understanding Anxiety: How Therapy Helps Identify Triggers
An episode of anxiety can arise seemingly without advance warning, leaving you unsure as to why it happened. Chances are strong that an event triggered you, something someone said, or you witnessed something that contained elements of an adverse event. At times, it doesn't take much to set off an anxiety trigger, and it makes it difficult to identify why you're feeling anxious.
Anxiety itself can also make it hard for you to identify the trigger. It comes on so fast that you're essentially re-traumatizing yourself without realizing it. Undergoing therapy for an anxiety disorder helps you identify and understand what caused you to react, why you react to it, and how you can reduce the impact a trigger has on yourself.
The biggest benefit to identifying your triggers through trauma therapy in Philadelphia is that you learn more about yourself, why you react at all, and gain tools that help you deal with the episode.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Strategies for Reducing Anxiety
CBT is an effective technique for resolving panic attacks and feelings of anxiety, especially when taught by an anxiety counselor in Philadelphia. This method takes you out of the moment and refocuses your attention on a simple task, thought process, or physical behavior. The technique works by distracting your mind from its compulsive thinking patterns and into a different thought pattern that pulls you away from anxious thinking.
CBT therapy sessions are short with the process taking a few weeks to a few months to complete. However, the techniques you learn serve you for the rest of your life as you call upon them whenever you find yourself in need. They've been proven to work time and again, and they won't let you down when you need them the most. Engaging in CBT helps you heal from your trauma, change your thought patterns, and enable you to react reasonably to an anxiety trigger.
The Role of Physical Activity and Relaxation in Coping with Anxiety
Anxiety is the result of the body's flight or fight response. It's the body's sixth sense telling our conscious mind that we're about to get into trouble and that we need to react accordingly if we want to survive. Thousands of years ago, trouble showed up in the form of brute force that resulted in serious injuries or death. Modern life has greatly reduced the risk of brute force, but our minds still react as if we're about to be harmed during a time of pressure.
That's not to say that people aren't likely to experience a traumatic event that leaves behind scars, but it does explain why a trigger is so overwhelming. The adrenaline system goes into overdrive to get your conscious mind to react in a physical manner, such as running. However, if you're sitting in a chair during a triggering event, the adrenaline overwhelms you and makes it harder to manage your reaction.
Physical activity helps you burn up the excess adrenaline, but it also helps you self-regulate when you're not engaging in physical activity. The same goes for making it a point to physically and mentally relax. The act of deep breathing, engaging in mindfulness, and relaxing your muscles serve to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and stress. Engaging in either of these techniques also helps you respond faster to feelings of anxiety, enabling you to return to normal more quickly.
How The Truth Center for Health and Healing Supports Anxiety Recovery
We at the Truth Center for Health and Healing are here to provide compassionate and caring therapeutic support to our clients. We'll help you find a new path in life that's not troubled by anxiety, show you techniques to cope with the stresses of daily life, and help you live a life of wellness and happiness.
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