How You Can Use CBT to Treat Your Anxiety Disorder

Experiencing an anxiety disorder can leave you feeling restless. Anxiety is a severe mental health disorder to battle. However, over the last decade, newly developed ways to treat anxiety have become mainstream. This includes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).

Though CBT has been around for many years, it is growing increasingly popular in treating mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. There is treatment out there that can help you overcome your most severe anxiety symptoms. This can help you have confidence in your treatment plan.

Anxiety disorders are complex, but with help and guidance from a licensed mental health counselor, there is hope. CBT is there to help change your faulty thinking and those thoughts that give you anxiety so you can live a happier life. Alter Wellness has an outpatient program that may help you learn the methods of CBT.

What Is Anxiety?

While everyone experiences anxiety, some of us experience persistent anxiety that we can’t always control. Anxiety disorders are more complex than the occasional stress and anxiety that life throws at us. Those experiencing an anxiety disorder may notice their symptoms get worse over time. This can lead to interference with our normal everyday lives.

There are several types of anxiety disorders which include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Social anxiety disorder
• Phobia-related disorders

While each disorder has its own set of symptoms, they have similarities that may help your doctor diagnose an anxiety disorder properly. These symptoms include constant worrying, chest pains, and the feeling of restlessness.

Anxiety could also be triggered by other physical and mental health causes, such as thyroid issues and depression. Though anxiety is its own disorder, it is common to have another mental health disorder along with anxiety.

Anxiety has been known to keep those experiencing it from doing social activities and participating in group therapies. However, there is help. Through therapies such as CBT, many find their anxiety symptoms lessen or become easier to manage.

What Is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy?

In the 1960s, psychiatrist Aaron Beck discovered the power of cognitive-behavioral therapy. He developed a therapy system that has since been extensively researched and used for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. This includes mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, common phobias and personality disorders.

He discovered that his patients were verbally relaying thoughts that lacked validity and noticed “cognitive distortions” in their thinking. Beck developed a way to help his patients overcome these thoughts. He challenged their beliefs and emotions, which led to intrusive thoughts.

Intrusive thoughts are those which you’d rather not have but seem to automatically make you feel depressed or anxious over a situation. According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, “CBT is based on the observation that dysfunctional automatic thoughts that are exaggerated, distorted, mistaken, or unrealistic in other ways play a significant role in psychopathology.”

The Benefits of CBT for Anxiety Disorders

Those experiencing an anxiety disorder have been shown to respond well to CBT. This may be because worrisome thoughts and anxious feelings are addressed during treatment. At Alter Wellness, we offer a program that addresses self-defeating thought patterns through CBT.

There are several benefits to this evidence-based treatment, including thought recognition. This stems from intrusive thoughts that could potentially make you feel inadequate. By learning how to replace these thoughts with kinder thoughts, you can lessen your anxiety and be more prepared for difficult situations.

Another benefit to being treated with CBT is that you may feel like you are focusing on the present moment. This can help change your behavior. Instead of thinking or being emotional about the past and worried about the future, you can focus on where you are now and not feel as anxious.

How CBT Works for Anxiety

There are many benefits to CBT therapy. However, it is important to understand that CBT only works if you are willing to change your thought pattern. The thought pattern that causes anxiety could hold you back from social activities like hanging out with your co-workers or family.

This faulty thinking or thought pattern could stop you from doing everyday chores around the house or relaxing in bed. Anxiety can cause other mental health conditions like insomnia and depression. That’s why it is important to get the help you need right away.

Talk to your therapist or attend an outpatient program like the one at Alter Wellness. If you feel as though you can no longer control your anxiety or feel like your anxiety is controlling you, now is the time to reach out for help. Symptoms can worsen the longer an anxiety disorder gets left untreated.

Taking the first step by getting help is courageous, and we encourage you to reach out. Though anxiety is a tough battle to fight, there is help and hope. CBT may be what you need to combat your symptoms and get back on track to a healthier and happier life.

If you are experiencing anxiety and feel like there is nowhere to turn, we encourage you to reach out to the team here at Alter Wellness Care. Our team of expert therapists and doctors can help you get the care you need by providing you with an outpatient treatment plan that works best for you. An anxiety disorder can be scary, but there is hope and help, and you can learn to cope and manage your symptoms with therapies such as CBT and other tactics. CBT is offered here at Alter Wellness Care, and we’d love to have you as a part of our treatment program. Call us at (866) 311-3510 to get the care you deserve.