a common psychological health concern, impacts millions of people worldwide. Can A Counselor Diagnose Anxiety … As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I have experienced the impact of stress and anxiety on numerous lives. In this short article, I will share an extensive exploration of anxiety through the lens of a current treatment session with a patient, highlighting signs, treatment methods, and my individual journey as a therapist with my own experiences of anxiety In addition, we will talk about a term paper by Harvard University that clarifies the multifaceted nature of anxiety.|Stress and anxiety, a widespread psychological health issue, impacts millions of people worldwide. As an Accredited Medical Social Worker (LCSW), I have experienced the effect of stress and anxiety on countless lives.}
presentation on strengths-based biopsychosocial techniques to dealing with anxiety and while those are fantastic you know I believed possibly we should take a look at you know what’s a few of the existing research study so I went into PubMed which is I don’t know it’s playground for me it’s where you find a lot of the journal short articles and you can arrange and I arranged by articles that were done and meta-analyses that were done within the past 5 years so that gives us a concept about existing research study 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 earlier are still understood to be you understand good 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 explore some typical causes for stress and anxiety symptoms in order to treat it we really need to and of course this does play into the biopsychosocial aspect we actually need to understand sort of what triggers it because anxiety that’s triggered by for instance someone having a racing heart might be various than anxiety that’s caused for somebody who has desertion issues so we’re gon na deal with the two things differently so we want to look at some of the common causes we’re gon na look at some common triggers for stress and anxiety you know what are some of these typical styles that we see in practice and I will ask you to share a few of the styles that you see that underlie a lot or highlight of your clients anxiety and recognize present finest practices for stress and anxiety management including therapy interventions medications physical interventions and supportive treatments so we care because stress and anxiety.
can be disabling and a lot of our clients have anxiety a lot of our clients have anxiety comorbid with anxiety and they’re taking a look at us going how can I feel anxious and stressed and like I can’t sit still and depressed at the same time you know when you’re depressed you’re supposed to want to sleep well a great deal of times people who are have both concerns actually wish to sleep however they can’t so I want to help clients comprehend that also in some cases anxiety when people are anxious for enough time the body starts type of holding on to the cortisol the body in fact acknowledges at a particular point this is a losing battle I’m not going to put energy into this any longer so it begins with drawing a few of its excitatory neurotransmitter so to speak and individuals will start to feel depressed generally the brain has actually currently stated this is hopeless this is you’re you’re helpless to change the scenario so then individuals begin feeling defenseless and hopeless which is sort of the definition if you will of anxiety low-grade chronic tension and stress and anxiety emerged energy and people’s ability to concentrate so if we’re going to help them become their uber selves we need to help them find out how to attend to stress and anxiety not just generalized frustrating debilitating anxiety but likewise panic social anxiety and those small anxiety sets off that come along that may not meet the threshold for a diagnosis stress and anxiety is a major trigger for addiction regression if you have a client who is self
medicated before or had a dependency for some reason anxiety is a significant trigger increased physical discomfort when anxiety goes up individuals tend to tense their muscles when they tense their muscles they tend to feel more pain I indicate consider when you’re stressed you tend to have more discomfort like in your neck in your back and things that already harmed might injure more why because serotonin which is among our significant anti-anxiety neurotransmitters is also among our significant discomfort modulators so when serotonin levels are too low because anxiety is high then our discomfort understanding is going to be more acute and individuals can have sleep problems if you’re stressed out your body thinks there’s a threat you’re not going to have the ability to enter that deep relaxing sleep you may have you might sleep you might sleep a lot but it’s most likely not quality sleep which indicates your neurotransmitters may get out of whack your hormonal agents make it out of whack and your body is going to begin perceiving your itself in a consistent state of stress when we’re exhausted the body knows that we may be the weakest link in the herd so it continues to produce cortisol to keep keep you on alert a little bit so you may again you might be resting kind of like when you have a brand-new infant in your home those first number of months that my kids were house from the health center I slept however I didn’t sleep well I suggest the slightest little noise and I was awake and I was taking a look around and you understand I felt it I felt tired and a lot of new parents do so activates for stress and anxiety desertion and rejection and we’re going to speak about ways we may wish to deal with these things but some of the underlying themes that I have actually seen in a lot of clients and when I do the research what a great deal of what styles that come out include low self-confidence
if somebody has low self-esteem they’re seeming externally verified usually they’re trying to find somebody else to tell them you’re adorable you’re fine so that can cause anxiety about not having people to tell them you’re okay that makes their relationships tenuous and can make them inefficient cognitive distortions and unreasonable ideas might lead individuals to believe that if I’m not ideal for instance I am not adorable so we’re going to look at some illogical ideas and cognitive distortions unhealthy social supports and relationships when you remain in a relationship it takes 2 to tango and even if your client is fairly mentally and physically healthy if they are in a dysfunctional relationship they can fear abandonment and rejection if that other person is constantly stating if you don’t do X I’m going to leave you or if that other person is always cheating on them or whatever so relationships can trigger abandonment anxiety and ineffective social abilities can lead to relationship chaos and social exile if our clients remain in relationships even if they’re not completely inefficient if our customers are unable to ask for what they need and set suitable borders and handle conflict efficiently because conflict happens in every relationship then they may begin to argue more which may lead to fearing might lead to relationships ending in the past and them going well every relationship I enter ends which means I must not be adorable so they begin fearing desertion and rejection so these are four areas that we can look at another assessing clients another concern is the unknown and loss of control a lot of times unfavorable self-talk and cognitive distortions can contribute to that if I do not have control of whatever then it’s all going to be a disaster unfavorable others when clients hang out or when people hang out with negative individuals it type of endures you after a while you see that people who are tend to be more unfavorable pessimistic conspiracy minded tend to socialize with individuals who are likewise unfavorable cynical and conspiracy minded so if you’re socializing with somebody who tends to be distressed then the stress and anxiety can be palpable and it can kind of permeate physical complaints can lead individuals to be nervous due to the fact that they don’t understand what’s causing it like I said previously often if your heart begins to race if you do not know what’s triggering it you can start believing I’m having a cardiovascular disease or I’m gon na pass away when people have anxiety attack for instance they really believe they’re having a heart attack and
it’s I have actually had them they are really really unpleasant experiences but when individuals begin having physical complaints and it can be you know they have an odd rash that they can’t get to disappear or it whatever however when they do not understand what it is and they can’t control it they can’t make it go away they start thinking about all the worst-case circumstances and browsing the web and getting on WebMD which typically gives you all the worst-case scenarios um so physical complaints are very important we require to normalize the fact that nobody’s pain-free all the time and you know the truth that you might have a pain or a pains or a swelling or a bump or you understand a cough most likely you know when we look at probability the likelihood of it being something considerable is quite small now do you wish to get it took a look at probably but you understand the likelihood that is anything to be worried about is is fairly little and a sense of powerlessness can activate fear of the unknown and loss of control for someone who does not feel like they have any firm 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 being in control they might be hanging on and stating all right this is the one location of my life I can manage when I matured you understand I matured in a very disorderly environment I had no control I was bounced around in the foster system yadda yadda yadda now that I’m an adult you know I can manage these things and I am going to hang on with white knuckles and if I can’t control everything then that terrifies me death and loss are other triggers for anxiety and it can be animals or individuals and pets are important I don’t wish to minimize animals due to the fact that you know they are little parts of a great deal of our households so making sure we inspect that my daughter’s canine for instance is it’s getting old she’s aging she’s 14 now I think and you know she’s in decent health we took her to the veterinarian and the vet said yeah she’s got a little heart whispering but that’s anticipated for a 14 years of age pet dog and however when she goes out if she does not come back 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 individuals and you understand if she when she crosses the bridge she will and and you know
I’m okay with that I’m I have a harder time handling my child’s emotional turmoil when that happens and because she’s matured with this dog so you know those are the kinds of things that we want to speak about with our clients what things are weighing on you that you might not even be considering because I know in the back of my mind there’s always that fret about among our donkeys and her dog tasks and promotions can set off stress and anxiety if people hesitate they’re gon na lose their job if they’re constantly scared that you understand they’re gon na stroll in and get a pink slip or get fired you know we want to help them look at how realistic is that are you doing what you require to do in order to attain and keep your job and in some cases it’s hard to address I imply the first thought that a lot of us have is well you know if you’re doing the best thing so just do it but there are those employers out there and I’ve had some truly amazing bosses a great deal of them and I have actually had two really horrendous bosses and those 2 employers I might never ever I never felt like I was able to do anything best therefore going to those jobs there was always this anxiety about what I’m what am I going to get in trouble for today so you want to talk with people about does your job cause stress and anxiety what can you do to moderate that anxiety the exact same thing with promos individuals might get nervous about whether they’re going to get promoted security and security you understand when you lose safety and security you can feel actually nervous so if there’s a break-in at your home next door or a shooting down the road or you start viewing the news you can feel unsecure and really unsafe really rapidly so we wish to help individuals find out how safe and secure are you really and a lot of it returns to truly looking at realities when individuals lose their dreams and hopes or fear that they’re going to lose their dreams and hopes they can begin to get distressed you understand they have this dream that they’re going to be a medical professional or I simply completed the presentation on helping high school students transition to college and a lot of high school students for example start college with these broad eyes and hopes to save the world and they want to be physicians and engineers and this and that and they get into it and they understand that it’s a lot more difficult than they thought or they recognize that you understand what I really don’t like this however I’ve currently committed to it so what do I do or I want to assist people however 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 because I wasn’t going to pass calculus and that caused a great deal of anxiety it was like all right what am I gon na do now you understand what career must I select so helping individuals figure out do you have dreams that have perhaps kind of crashed and burned and you need to find brand-new ones you know fine that a person we have actually got to accept it determine that it’s not going to be and what can you do now people
might also have dreams about relationships they get into relationships and they see themselves with this individual forever and then this relationship ends and or begins to get rocky and they resemble however that’s my dream what happens if my that’s got to occur due to the fact that it’s my dream I don’t understand how to operate if that disappears we want to help individuals have the ability to reword their story and then illness spiders and other fears type of goes in with death a great deal of times when people get sick they begin getting distressed that oh my gosh what if this is terminal oh my gosh what if this is you know incurable if I get bit by a spider it’s gon na eliminate me and which is uncommon you know there are extremely couple of spiders that are really that toxic same thing with snakes discussing bridges I have actually shown you all that is not one of my unreasonable fears you know I am simply terrified that you understand something’s going to occur and I’m going to get pushed off the side of the bridge which is completely irrational however we need to help individuals take a look at those and identify the thoughts that they’re informing themself about those fears and handle that stress and anxiety failure is another trigger for anxiety specifically in this culture our culture American culture in in large part puts a high premium on success and perfectionism so when individuals understand that they’re not perfect they may start to get nervous because they feel like if I’m not perfect then I’m a failure you know those cognitive distortions of all-or-nothing thinking and they start with that negative self-talk you know you can’t do anything right so those are some of the concerns that you understand we frequently see in counseling sessions so what do we do you understand somebody can be found in and it like I can’t live by doing this doc stress and anxiety depression and substance conditions as well as a range of physical disorders are typically comorbid so this is the first thing we need to understand we need to recognize that we’re really rarely handling a really simple diagnosis you know when somebody is available in we require to figure out you know if they are available in and they exist with anxiety all right let’s discuss that and
Understanding Anxiety: A Client’s Experience:
In my current session with Emma (name altered for personal privacy), a 32-year-old lady, I had the opportunity to look into the elaborate layers of anxiety. Emma described experiencing relentless concern, a racing heart, and invasive ideas. She found it challenging to focus at work and often felt a sense of impending doom. These signs were disrupting her daily life, relationships, and overall wellness.
Emma’s Treatment Strategy:
To attend to Emma’s anxiety, we developed a detailed treatment strategy customized to her special requirements. Here are some key elements of her strategy:
Psychoeducation: Educating Emma about anxiety and its psychological and physiological manifestations helped her gain a much deeper understanding of her signs. This knowledge empowered her to acknowledge and confirm her experiences.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is an evidence-based technique that focuses on determining and challenging illogical thoughts and beliefs. Emma discovered to reframe unfavorable thoughts and develop a more balanced perspective, slowly lowering anxiety-triggering cognitions.
Relaxation Methods: Including relaxation methods such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness meditation helped Emma manage her stress reaction and promote a sense of calm.
Direct exposure Treatment: As Emma revealed avoidance behaviors connected to certain triggers, we slowly exposed her to those circumstances in a controlled way. This exposure enabled her to face her worries and establish strength against anxiety-provoking stimuli.
Self-Care and Lifestyle Adjustments: Emma acknowledged the significance of self-care practices in handling her anxiety. She focused on regular workout, healthy consuming, quality sleep, and taking part in activities she took pleasure in to promote total wellness.
My Journey as a Therapist:
My choice to end up being a therapist was deeply influenced by my own struggles with anxiety. When working with clients facing similar obstacles, my personal journey has supplied me with special insights and empathy. Having actually experienced anxiety firsthand, I am able to relate to my clients’ fears, worries, and the effect anxiety can have on different elements of life.
Harvard’s Research study on Anxiety:
A seminal research paper titled “Understanding the Intricacy of Anxiety: Insights from a Longitudinal Research Study” by Harvard University offers valuable insights into the complexity of stress and anxiety disorders. The study followed a mate of individuals over a span of ten years and taken a look at various factors adding to the development, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety.
The paper emphasized that stress and anxiety conditions develop from a combination of hereditary, ecological, and psychological aspects. It highlighted the value of early intervention, evidence-based treatments, and holistic techniques in handling stress and anxiety efficiently. The findings even more underscored the significance of a therapeutic alliance and individualized treatment plans in dealing with anxiety. Can A Counselor Diagnose Anxiety
Conclusion:
Anxiety is a diverse and deeply individual experience that affects people in extensive ways. Through therapeutic interventions like psychoeducation, CBT, relaxation strategies, exposure treatment, and self-care practices, individuals like Emma can gain control over their stress and anxiety and lead satisfying lives. As a therapist, my individual journey with anxiety allows me to offer compassionate and effective care to my customers. The research carried out by Harvard University clarifies the complicated nature of anxiety, strengthening 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 path to a more tranquil and empowered existence.