Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been around since the 1960s and has since become one of the most widely used therapies for treating a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety disorders. CBT is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all interconnected, and that by changing our thoughts and behaviors we can ultimately change how we feel. Let’s take a look at how it works and how it can be used to help anxiety disorders.
How Does It Work?
The premise behind CBT is simple: by changing negative thinking patterns we can better manage our feelings, actions, and reactions. To do this, CBT practitioners focus on two primary areas: cognitive restructuring (changing the way you think about yourself and your situation) and behavior modification (changing your behavior in order to create positive outcomes). Through a combination of talk therapy sessions as well as practical exercises designed to help you identify triggers for anxiety-inducing thoughts or behaviors, CBT helps you become more aware of unhelpful thought patterns and equip you with tools to better manage them.
What Conditions Can It Help With?
CBT has proven successful in treating a wide range of mental health issues such as depression, phobias, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), substance abuse issues, anger management problems, relationship issues, grief counseling—and yes—anxiety disorders. According to research conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), CBT has been found to be particularly effective when it comes to treating anxiety disorders because it helps patients identify their triggers as well as develop coping strategies for managing them.
Conclusion:
Anxiety is an extremely common mental health issue that affects millions of people worldwide; however with the right treatment plan it is possible to overcome its debilitating effects. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is one such treatment option which has been proven successful in helping people struggling with anxiety disorders learn how to reframe their thoughts so that they can better cope with their emotions in stressful situations. If you are suffering from an anxiety disorder or any other related condition then consider talking to your doctor about whether CBT might be right for you.