Three Types of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety

Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety is widely considered by psychiatrists and psychologists in Farmingdale and elsewhere to be one of the most effective and best supported treatments for anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other related psychological conditions. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which the therapist helps the patient identify irrational ways of thinking and feeling that lead to maladaptive behaviors, in order to change the client’s response to anxiety-triggering situations and events.

There are six key phases involved in cognitive behavioral therapy:

1.       Psychological assessment of the client by the therapist

2.       Reconceptualization, in which the client learns to reexamine their ways of thinking about anxiety-triggering situations or events

3.       Skills acquisition, in which the client learns new skills for coping

4.       Skills consolidation and application, in which the client applies their newly learned skills

5.       Generalization and maintenance

6.       Post-treatment assessment and follow-up

There are several different approaches to cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety available in Farmingdale. Some of these include rational emotive behavior therapy, cognitive emotional behavior therapy, and structured cognitive behavioral therapy.

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety that emphasizes the resolution of emotional disturbances and related behavioral problems. REBT was originally developed in the 1950s by American psychiatrist Albert Ellis, who continued to develop this approach until his death in 2007. The central premise of REBT as cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety, is that people tend to become upset not so much by unfortunate circumstances or adversities in and of themselves, but by their own ways of thinking about these adversities.

This is shaped by the person’s overall philosophical outlook and how they construct their view of reality. Albert Ellis described the relationship between events and the person’s reaction to them in terms of the A-B-C Model:

·         A for adversity or activating events

·         B for the person’s beliefs regarding the events

·         C for the emotional and behavioral consequences of the person’s beliefs toward the activating events

Ellis’s REBT aims to help patients realize that, although they cannot control certain events and circumstances in their lives, they can control how they think about, feel about, and respond to those events or circumstances. Many people have cognitive and behavioral tendencies, often developed early in life, that become self-defeating; REBT aims to help people reexamine their feelings, behaviors, and ways of thinking to respond in a more healthy manner to adversities.

Cognitive Emotional Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive emotional behavioral therapy (CEBT) is another form of cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety. CEBT aims to help clients self-evaluate the basis of emotional distress, and to better understand what causes and contributes to their emotional states. Achieving a better self-understanding reduces the need for dysfunctional coping behaviors. CEBT is distinct from CBT, per se, in that it places more emphasis on the emotional component of anxiety and other disorders. Although CEBT was originally developed for treating eating disorders, it has also proven to be effective for many individuals as a form of cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety.

Structured Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

A third approach to cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety in Farmingdale and elsewhere is structured cognitive behavioral therapy (SCBT). SCBT is distinct from CBT in that it is considered less of an indefinite therapy and more as a finite form of training. In SCBT, clients undergo a program divided into progressive sessions arranged into a particular order. The design of SCBT is tailored more to the disorder than to the individual. SCBT stresses willpower, in the form of urge conditioning and desensitization. Although SCBT is most commonly used for addictive behaviors, it can also be effective for some individuals as cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety.

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Identifying Anxiety Disorders

There are several kinds of recognized panic disorders and suffers across the nation, especially in largely populated areas where life is fast paced. There are a range of anxiety treatment options for residents of the Port Washington, NY area – one being BrainCore’s revolutionary neurofeedback therapy. It’s important to understand the different signs and symptoms so you know when it’s a matter that needs to be addressed by a doctor. The following is a list of the different disorders and the treatments available.

Types of Panic Disorders

Anxiety is really a natural human emotion and feeling anxiety every now and then when dealing with challenges at home or the office is totally normal. However, when a person experiences a panic disorder, their lives are completely disrupted. The attacks can be constant and overwhelming. It’s important that those that suffer with a panic disorder find a treatment that works for his or her specific disorder. Back to life Chiropractic in Port Washington offers a natural treatment option for panic disorders including the following:

·         Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Individuals with this Obsessive-compulsive disorder have repeated and undesirable ideas, feelings, actions, or obsessions which make them feel driven to do certain rituals or do things in a certain manner.

·         Panic Attacks - Individuals with this problem have sudden feelings of terror and fear that occur with virtually no warning. Physical signs and symptoms include heart palpitations, trouble breathing, sweating, chest discomfort, and also the sense of cardiac arrest.

·         Fears (Phobias) - Phobic individuals have a persistent and irrational anxiety about a particular object or situation. The amount of fear is generally disproportionate towards the situation, and frequently interferes with the person leading an ordinary existence.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of panic disorders vary with respect to the type of disorder. Here are a few key items to watch for:

·         Excessive worrying or anxious ideas

·         Trouble falling, or remaining, asleep

·         Overwhelming self-awareness

·         Irrational fears

·         Near-constant muscle tension

·         Stress attacks

Just because you show one of these symptoms, doesn't always mean you are having a panic attack. If you think that you might have a panic disorder, consult your physician.

Treatments

There are several treatments available for panic disorders; however, not every treatment works for everyone. You need to discuss the different remedies with your physician in order to insure you find a method that works for you. The different treatments available are:

·         Medication - Drugs such as MAO inhibitors and anxiety medications are generally recommended for panic disorders; however, they also carry a risk of dependence and unwanted side effects.

·         Psychiatric therapy - This type of therapy involves working with a mental health professional who will help the individual develop methods to cope with their disorder.

·         Cognitive- Behavior Therapy - This type of therapy concentrates on teaching the individual to acknowledge their disorder and to learn to alter thoughts and behaviors in order to eventually stop themselves before they have a panic attack.

Neurofeedback Therapy - This helps to retrain brainwave designs using an EEG machine. Neurofeedback therapy has no side effects and is completely non-invasive.

·         Nutritional Habits and Changes In Lifestyle – Changing certain dietary behaviors, such as staying away from caffeine and alcohol, eating organic meals, and keeping an ordinary sleep schedule can considerably improve panic disorders. Being aware of your body and staying away from unnecessary demanding situations can assist in combating these disorders.

If you are a resident of the Port Washington area and you feel that you may be suffering from a panic disorder, contact your local BrainCore clinic. You can call us: 516-944-4469 or visit our website http://braincoreny.com/

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Paranoid Personality Disorder

Paranoid personality disorder in New York is a psychological disorder characterized by longstanding, pervasive patterns of paranoid, mistrust, and suspiciousness that permeate an individual’s entire personality structure. People with paranoid personality disorder tend to be hyper vigilant and very suspicious, often mistakenly seeing clues in their environment that they misinterpret as evidence confirming their fears and biases regarding the malicious intent of others. This often causes anxiety and social withdrawal, and overall corresponds to a decidedly “warped” worldview that is, at its core, decidedly irrational. Cognitive behavioral therapy, which is focused on identifying and correcting irrational thought processes and maladaptive behavioral patterns, is well established for helping people with paranoid personality disorder in New York. 

Symptoms and Subtypes of Paranoid Personality Disorder 

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies the following symptoms for paranoid personality disorder. To be clinically diagnosed, a person in New York must fit the majority of the criteria:

·         Excessive sensitivity to setbacks or disagreements with others

·         Tendency to persistently bear grudges against people

·         Suspiciousness, and a tendency to misconstrue the actions and intents of others as malicious

·         A sense of combativeness and personal rights

·         Recurrent suspicious, often not justified by evidence, regarding the fidelity of romantic partners

·         Tendency toward excessive self-importance

·         Preoccupation with “conspiracy theories”

In addition to these criteria, many psychologists in New York recognize multiple subtypes of paranoid personality disorder. These subtypes were originally outlined by psychologist Theodore Millon, who is known for his work on personality disorder subtypes. Millon’s subtypes of Paranoid Personality Disorder include:

·         Obdurate. This subtype has compulsive features, and tends toward self-importance, self-righteousness, and stubbornness.

·         Fanatic. This type of paranoid personality in New York tends to be prone to grandiose delusions, often wild conspiracy theories. They often feel arrogance and contempt toward others, and use extravagant and self-important fantasies to maintain ego and pride.

·         Querulous. This subtype is often argumentative and fault-finding.

·         Insular. This type of paranoid personality tends to be socially withdrawn, secluding themselves to protect against imagined threats and dangers.

·         Malignant. This type of paranoid personality in New York, with sadistic features, is prone to persecutory delusions and tends to be vengeful and spiteful toward others.  

Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Patients with Paranoid Personality Disorder

Patients with paranoid personality disorder in New York can be challenging for therapists to treat, since they tend to be suspicious and are often hesitant to comply with therapy. Nonetheless, cognitive behavioral therapy is widely recognized as one of the most effective approaches to addressing this condition. Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by irrational thought patterns, generally revolving around delusions about other people’s malicious intent and sometimes permeated by a sense of self-importance and grandiosity. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help to make the person aware of these processes, and to recognize that they may not be rational or rooted in fact. By recognizing that the paranoia and fear are largely delusional, maladaptive behaviors like social withdrawal and a contentious style of interpersonal interaction can be addressed. The goal of cognitive behavioral therapy is to help the person self-evaluate how they think about what happens around them, so that more productive and enriching behavior patterns can be developed.

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