a widespread mental health issue, impacts countless individuals worldwide. Blue Shield Family Anxiety And Depression Therapist In Bay Area … As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I have actually experienced the impact of stress and anxiety on countless lives. In this article, I will share an in-depth expedition of stress and anxiety through the lens of a current therapy session with a client, highlighting symptoms, treatment strategies, and my individual journey as a therapist with my own experiences of anxiety Additionally, we will talk about a research paper by Harvard University that clarifies the multifaceted nature of anxiety.|Stress and anxiety, a common psychological health concern, affects millions of people worldwide. As a Certified Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), I have actually witnessed the effect of anxiety on countless lives.}
discussion on strengths-based biopsychosocial techniques to attending to anxiety and while those are wonderful you understand I believed maybe we should look at you know what’s some of the existing research so I went into PubMed which is I do not know it’s playground for me it’s where you find a lot of the journal articles and you can arrange and I sorted by short articles that were done and meta-analyses that were done within the past five years so that gives us a concept about current research I mean there’s a lot of things that is still the exact same like a few of the medications that were known to work 10 years earlier are still known to be you know good first-line treatments however there are also some newcomers that we’ll discuss and there are also some changes that we’re going to discuss so we’re going to check out some common causes for anxiety signs in order to treat it we truly need to and of course this does play into the biopsychosocial element we really require to understand type of what causes it due to the fact that stress and anxiety that’s caused by for example someone having a racing heart might be various than stress and anxiety that’s triggered for someone who has desertion issues so we’re gon na treat the two things in a different way so we wish to look at a few 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 some of the themes that you see that highlight or underlie a lot of your clients stress and anxiety and recognize current best practices for stress and anxiety management including counseling interventions medications physical interventions and encouraging treatments so we care due to the fact that anxiety.
can be disabling and a lot of our customers have anxiety a lot of our clients have stress and anxiety comorbid with anxiety and they’re looking at us going how can I feel nervous 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 lot of times people who are have both issues actually wish to sleep but they can’t so I wish to assist clients understand that also often stress and anxiety when people are anxious for long enough the body starts type of hanging on to the cortisol the body actually recognizes at a particular point this is a losing fight I’m not going to put energy into this anymore so it begins with drawing some of its excitatory neurotransmitter so to speak and individuals will begin to feel depressed basically the brain has actually currently said this is hopeless this is you’re you’re helpless to change the circumstance so then people begin feeling helpless and helpless which is sort of the meaning if you will of depression low-grade chronic tension and stress and anxiety developed energy and individuals’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 address anxiety not simply generalized overwhelming devastating stress and anxiety but likewise panic social stress and anxiety and those small stress and anxiety sets off that occurred that might not fulfill the threshold for a medical diagnosis anxiety is a significant trigger for addiction relapse if you have a customer who is self
medicated prior to or had a dependency for some reason anxiety is a major trigger increased physical discomfort when anxiety increases people tend to tense their muscles when they tense their muscles they tend to feel more pain I mean consider when you’re stressed out you tend to have more discomfort like in your neck in your back and things that currently hurt may harm more why due to the fact that serotonin which is one of our major anti-anxiety neurotransmitters is also among our significant pain modulators so when serotonin levels are too low due to the fact that anxiety is high then our pain perception is going to be more severe and people can have sleep problems if you’re stressed your body believes there’s a risk you’re not going to have the ability to enter into that deep peaceful sleep you might have you may sleep you may sleep a lot however it’s most likely not quality sleep which indicates your neurotransmitters may leave whack your hormones make it out of whack and your body is going to start viewing your itself in a relentless state of tension when we’re tired the body understands that we might be the weakest link in the herd so it continues to secrete cortisol to keep keep you on alert a little bit so you might once again you may be resting sort of like when you have a new child at home those very first couple of months that my kids were house from the medical facility I slept however I didn’t sleep well I imply the slightest little noise and I was awake and I was browsing and you know I felt it I felt exhausted and a lot of new parents do so sets off for stress and anxiety desertion and rejection and we’re going to talk about ways we might want to handle these things but some of the underlying styles that I have actually seen in a great deal of customers and when I do the research what a great deal of what styles that come out consist of low self-confidence
if somebody has low self-confidence they’re looking to be externally validated usually they’re searching for someone else to tell them you’re adorable you’re all right so that can result in stress and anxiety about not having individuals to tell them you’re all right that makes their relationships tenuous and can make them inefficient irrational thoughts and cognitive distortions may lead individuals to believe that if I’m not perfect for instance I am not lovable so we’re going to take a look at some irrational ideas and cognitive distortions unhealthy social supports and relationships when you remain in a relationship it takes two to tango and even if your client is fairly psychologically and physically healthy if they are in an inefficient relationship they can fear desertion and rejection if that other individual is constantly stating if you do not do X I’m going to leave you or if that other person is constantly cheating on them or whatever so relationships can set off abandonment anxiety and ineffective interpersonal skills can result in relationship turmoil and social exile if our customers remain in relationships even if they’re not totally inefficient if our customers are not able to request what they require and set suitable limits and handle conflict successfully due to the fact that conflict takes place in every relationship then they might start to argue more which might cause fearing might cause relationships ending in the past and them going well every relationship I enter ends which indicates I should not be lovable so they start fearing abandonment and rejection so these are four areas that we can take a look at one more assessing customers another issue is the unknown and loss of control a lot of times unfavorable self-talk and cognitive distortions can add to that if I do not have control of everything then it’s all going to be a disaster unfavorable others when clients hang out or when individuals hang out with unfavorable people it kind of endures you after a while you observe that individuals who are tend to be more negative cynical conspiracy minded tend to socialize with individuals who are likewise unfavorable downhearted and conspiracy minded so if you’re hanging out with somebody who tends to be distressed then the stress and anxiety can be palpable and it can sort of penetrate physical problems can lead people to be distressed since they do not know what’s causing it like I said previously often if your heart starts to race if you do not understand what’s triggering it you can begin thinking I’m having a cardiovascular disease or I’m gon na die when individuals have panic attacks for example they really believe they’re having a cardiac arrest and
it’s I have actually had them they are very very unpleasant experiences however when individuals begin having physical problems and it can be you understand they have an odd rash that they can’t get to go away or it whatever however when they don’t know what it is and they can’t control it they can’t make it disappear they start considering all the worst-case scenarios and going online and getting on WebMD which typically provides you all the worst-case circumstances um so physical problems are essential we require to stabilize the fact that nobody’s pain-free all the time and you know the truth that you may have a discomfort or a pains or a lump or a bump or you know a cough more than likely you know when we take a look at possibility the likelihood of it being something significant is pretty little now do you want to get it had a look at most likely but you understand the probability that is anything to be stressed over is is fairly little and a sense of powerlessness can activate worry of the unknown and loss of control for somebody who doesn’t seem like they have any company in their life if they have an external locus of control or if they felt preyed on all of their life then they might fear not being in control they may be hanging on and stating fine this is the one area of my life I can control when I grew up you know I matured in a really chaotic 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 manage whatever then that horrifies me death and loss are other triggers for stress and anxiety and it can be individuals or animals and animals are important I don’t wish to decrease pets due to the fact that you know they are little parts of a great deal of our families so making sure we examine that my child’s canine for instance is it’s getting old she’s growing older she’s 14 now I believe and you know she’s in decent health we took her to the vet and the vet said yeah she’s got a little heart murmur but that’s anticipated for a 14 year old pet and however when she heads out if she does not return when I call her I have this rush of stress and anxiety for a second oh my gosh I hope this wasn’t the day so anxiety around losing people and you understand if she when she crosses the bridge she will and and you understand
I’m all right with that I’m I have a more difficult time dealing with my child’s psychological chaos when that takes place and because she’s grown up with this pet so you know those are the types of things that we want to discuss with our customers 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 worry about one of our donkeys and her canine jobs and promotions can trigger anxiety if people are afraid they’re gon na lose their task if they’re constantly afraid that you understand they’re gon na stroll in and get or get a pink slip fired you know we wish to help them take a look at how sensible is that are you doing what you need to do in order to achieve and keep your task and often it’s not easy to address I mean the very first thought that a lot of us have is well you understand if you’re doing the ideal thing so just do it but there are those bosses out there and I have actually had some truly fantastic employers a lot of them and I have actually had 2 really horrendous managers and those 2 bosses I could never ever I never ever felt like I was able to do anything best and so going to those tasks there was always this anxiety about what I’m what am I going to get in trouble for today so you wish to talk with individuals about does your job cause stress and anxiety what can you do to moderate that anxiety the exact same thing with promos people may get nervous about whether they’re going to get promoted safety and security you understand when you lose safety and security you can feel really nervous so if there’s a burglary at your house next door or a shooting down the road or you begin watching the news you can feel really hazardous and unsecure actually quickly so we want to assist people find out how safe and safe and secure are you actually and a lot of it goes back to actually taking a look at truths when people lose their dreams and hopes or fear that they’re going to lose their dreams and hopes they can start to get nervous you understand they have this dream that they’re going to be a physician or I just ended up the presentation on helping high school trainees shift to college and a lot of high school trainees for example start college with these wide eyes and wants to conserve the world and they wish to be doctors and engineers and this and that and they get into it and they understand that it’s a lot more difficult than they believed or they understand that you understand what I actually do not like this but I have actually already devoted to it so what do I do or I wish to assist people but I can’t I can’t cut it doing this you know for me I determined in my 2nd year that I wasn’t going to medical school due to the fact that I wasn’t going to pass calculus which caused a great deal of anxiety it resembled all right what am I gon na do now you know what profession should I pick so assisting individuals figure out do you have dreams that have maybe sort of crashed and burned and you have to discover brand-new ones you know fine that a person we have actually got to accept it figure out that it’s not going to be and what can you do now individuals
may likewise have dreams about relationships they enter relationships and they see themselves with this individual forever and after that this relationship ends and or begins to get rocky and they resemble but that’s my dream what occurs if my that’s got to occur because it’s my dream I don’t know how to operate if that goes away we want to help people be able to rewrite their story and then illness spiders and other fears sort of goes in with death a lot of times when individuals get sick they start getting nervous that oh my gosh what if this is terminal oh my gosh what if this is you understand incurable if I get bit by a spider it’s gon na kill me and which is rare you know there are extremely couple of spiders that are actually that poisonous exact same thing with snakes reviewing bridges I have actually shown you all that is not one of my illogical fears you understand I am simply terrified that you know something’s going to happen and I’m going to get pushed off the side of the bridge which is completely irrational but we need to assist people take a look at those and determine the thoughts that they’re telling themself about those phobias and handle that 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 might start to get nervous since they feel like if I’m not ideal then I’m a failure you know those cognitive distortions of all-or-nothing thinking and they begin with that unfavorable self-talk you understand you can’t do anything right so those are some of the concerns that you know we typically see in counseling sessions so what do we do you know someone comes in and it like I can’t live this way doc stress and anxiety depression and substance conditions as well as a variety of physical conditions are frequently comorbid so this is the first thing we require to recognize we need to understand that we’re really rarely handling an extremely simple diagnosis you understand when somebody comes in we need to find out you understand if they come in and they exist with anxiety all right let’s speak about that and
Comprehending Stress And Anxiety: A Client’s Experience:
In my current session with Emma (name altered for privacy), a 32-year-old woman, I had the opportunity to look into the complex layers of stress and anxiety. Emma explained experiencing persistent worry, a racing heart, and intrusive ideas. She found it challenging to focus at work and frequently felt a sense of impending doom. These signs were interfering with her every day life, relationships, and total wellness.
Emma’s Treatment Strategy:
To resolve Emma’s anxiety, we established a thorough treatment plan tailored to her distinct requirements. Here are some key elements of her plan:
Psychoeducation: Educating Emma about stress and anxiety and its psychological and physiological symptoms assisted her gain a deeper understanding of her symptoms. This knowledge empowered her to recognize and verify her experiences.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is an evidence-based technique that focuses on recognizing and challenging illogical ideas and beliefs. Emma found out to reframe negative thoughts and establish a more balanced point of view, slowly minimizing anxiety-triggering cognitions.
Relaxation Techniques: Incorporating relaxation methods such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness meditation helped Emma control her tension response and promote a sense of calm.
Direct exposure Treatment: As Emma revealed avoidance habits connected to specific triggers, we gradually exposed her to those situations in a controlled manner. This exposure enabled her to challenge her fears and develop strength versus anxiety-provoking stimuli.
Self-Care and Way Of Life Adjustments: Emma acknowledged the significance of self-care practices in managing her stress and anxiety. She focused on regular exercise, healthy eating, quality sleep, and taking part in activities she enjoyed to promote overall wellness.
My Journey as a Therapist:
My choice to become a therapist was deeply affected by my own struggles with stress and anxiety. When working with clients facing comparable obstacles, my personal journey has supplied me with special insights and empathy. Having experienced anxiety firsthand, I am able to relate to my patients’ worries, concerns, and the effect anxiety can have on various elements of life.
Harvard’s Research on Stress and anxiety:
A seminal term paper titled “Understanding the Complexity of Stress And Anxiety: Insights from a Longitudinal Study” by Harvard University provides valuable insights into the intricacy of stress and anxiety disorders. The research study followed a cohort of people over a period of ten years and taken a look at various factors adding to the development, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety.
The paper stressed that stress and anxiety disorders arise from a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. It highlighted the value of early intervention, evidence-based therapies, and holistic approaches in managing anxiety efficiently. The findings further highlighted the significance of a therapeutic alliance and individualized treatment plans in dealing with stress and anxiety. Blue Shield Family Anxiety And Depression Therapist In Bay Area
Conclusion:
Stress and anxiety is a complex and deeply individual experience that affects individuals in profound methods. Through healing interventions like psychoeducation, CBT, relaxation techniques, direct exposure therapy, and self-care practices, people like Emma can gain control over their stress and anxiety and lead fulfilling lives. As a therapist, my personal journey with anxiety allows me to supply thoughtful and effective care to my clients. The research conducted by Harvard University sheds light on the intricate nature of stress and anxiety, strengthening the value of tailored treatments and early intervention in promoting mental wellness. Together, we can navigate the labyrinth of anxiety and discover the path to a more tranquil and empowered presence.