Responding effectively to anxiety is a challenging skill that develops experientially with time and practice. Think of a challenging skill you’ve acquired in your life: riding a bike, learning to read, speaking a foreign language or learning a programming language, or playing a sport. You didn’t have trust in your ability to execute those skills …
It is rare that the anxious person will go to a doctor and say, “My problem is that I’m afraid of my thoughts.” You are more likely to complain, “I’m always thinking… I can’t stop thinking… I can’t turn my mind off… I can’t relax… I can’t sleep… I can’t concentrate because of my worries.” …
The difference between productive and unproductive worryRead More »
As I described in the section on theories of responding to psychological suffering, I belong to the school of thought that believes that it is your response to yourself and your environment that determines your sense of wellbeing. It is not your circumstances themselves, but rather your interpretation of them and your beliefs about them …
1) What was the trigger? Was it internal or external? My mom told me about her friend that was diagnosed with cancer 2) What sensations do you feel? heart beating faster, tightness in chest, short of breath, light-headedness 3) What thoughts are you having? what if I have cancer? 4) What is your reaction …
Example of self-monitoring for Obsessive Compulsive DisorderRead More »