Category: Anxiety
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Coping with Anxiety: Understanding the Cognitive Landscape
Anxiety, a ubiquitous part of the human experience, can range from the mild, fluttery feelings of nervousness before a big presentation to the deep, pervasive dread that interferes with daily life. While a certain level of anxiety can be motivating, pushing us to prepare and perform, it becomes problematic when it oversteps, crippling our ability…
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Understanding Anxiety and Clark’s Panic Model
What is Anxiety? Anxiety is a natural human emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure. While anxiety can be a normal response to stress, it can become overwhelming and interfere with daily activities for some individuals. How Common is Anxiety, and What are its Consequences? Anxiety disorders…
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Understanding Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Wells’ Metacognitive Model
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)? Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of daily life, such as health, work, and relationships. Unlike the occasional anxiety that everyone experiences, GAD is long-lasting and often disproportionate to the actual source of worry. How Common is GAD, and What are…
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Discovering Beck’s Cognitive Behavioral Theory: A Revelation in Mental Health
I still remember the day I stumbled upon Dr. Aaron T. Beck’s groundbreaking work on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). As a psychologist, I’ve always been on the lookout for practical techniques to help my clients navigate their mental landscapes. The clarity and simplicity with which Beck described the interplay of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors was…
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Preparing for Financially Tough Times: A Cognitive Guide for Individuals with OCD
Financial challenges can be daunting for anyone, but for individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), the cognitive distortions that often accompany the disorder can amplify the stress. It’s essential to recognize and address these cognitive distortions to navigate financial difficulties more effectively. This article will focus on understanding these distortions and offering strategies to balance supportive…
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9 Tips: ROCD and General Anxiety Disorder
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a worrier. But it wasn’t until my late twenties that I realized my worries weren’t just typical concerns; they were manifestations of General Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Every uncertainty, every unknown, felt like a looming threat. I believed that if I didn’t worry about something, it meant…
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Anxiety Management: Quick Relief or Long Term Change?
From the perspective of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), seeking quick relief from anxiety may provide temporary relief, but it is not the most effective long-term solution. CBT focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to anxiety, and building coping skills to manage anxiety in the long-term. CBT approaches anxiety through…
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Social Anxiety and OCD
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are both anxiety disorders that can co-occur in some individuals. Although the two disorders are distinct, there is a connection between them in some cases. Research has found that people with social anxiety disorder may be at a higher risk of developing OCD compared to the general…
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Anxiety: 3 common negative biases
Anxiety is a common mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. One of the key features of anxiety is the presence of cognitive biases, which are patterns of thinking that can lead to distorted perceptions of reality. I’ve always struggled with anxiety, but one of the worst things about it for me has…
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7 tips to deal with social anxiety
If you’re one of the millions of people who suffer from social anxiety, you know how debilitating it can be. You may feel like you’re being judged, or that you’re not good enough. You may worry about what others think of you, or that you’ll say or do something wrong. You may avoid social situations…
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OCD vs. Anxiety: key differences
Mental diagnosis can be difficult, in part because the differences between individuals’ internal experiences can seem quite nuanced. Per community request, here are some of the key differences between OCD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). OCD General Anxiety Characterized bycompulsive or ritualisticresponses to… Compulsive, ritualisticcoping mechanismsare not typical. neutralize, erase,replace, or stop… Characterized byworrisome attempts…