I require information please, on how to cope better with anxiety.

[dudu87]

I have a little bit of difficulties at the moment dealing with thoughts, which now are obsessive. To the point I worry every day.
I see a psychologist, a few actually, they've helped, but my main psychologist that I see now is quite busy, and I rarely get to see him, he's always booked out.
Anyway, I would just like some ideas if I may, please.. On what to do.

Would someone kindly please explain (with example) in detail exactly what to do with CBT I'd like to try it.

I really want to get through this. I believe I can.
Thank you in advance, my friends. I hope you have a fantastic day/afternoon/and/or night.

[Beltane]

Hiya and welcome to beyondblue.

There are a few interesting types of therapy- different therapies work for different people.
CBT is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I dont think I can post links here, but if you google it you'll find some good explanations on Wikipedia and Better Health Channel. Much better explanations than i can provide here!

Another popular one is ACT- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Slightly different (again, best if you google it rather than me post a poor explanation here). I love it to bits, as it encourages self-compassion and learning skills to achieve your true goals and be who you truly want to be.

Both are aimed at teaching you coping skills and relaxation skills, behavioural techniques, and general life skills to help you cope with and overcome your symptoms/ illness, and achieve your goals. They just teach different techniques and styles.


I know it can be really hard to find a therapist that works for you, but you have to balance out how much this man helps you versus how hard he is to get an appointment with. Perhaps you can book several weeks of appointments today, so you get them before anyone else does. You could try changing therapists- i don't have any issues seeing mine every week.

There are also online courses you can do (even free ones, paid for by the government or charities/ research foundations etc).
One I personally have had experience with is MindSpot Clinic. They offer a 10 week CBT course for people with depression/ anxiety-- all online, all free from Medicare, you do it on your computer. If you google them you'll get their website  and can enquire about doing the course. I did a week of it and really liked it- the only reason i stopped was because my therapist was doing ACT therapy which is a bit different.

They'll recommend you check with your therapist if its ok to do their course- only so that the course doesn't clash with what your therapist is doing. You should be ok, if your therapist is doing CBT, this course is CBT, so same. But really, you can do the course anyway- its a recommendation, not a rule.

also, obviously, talk to your regular doctor about medication, or a change in medication if you're already on it. Its really helped me enormously, and together with the therapy my anxiety is unbelievably better- like amazingly so. Its gone!!

Hope that helps

[Harro145]

Hi,  I have suffered with depression and anxiety for 7years now, I see a psychiatrist on a regular basis an have found him very helpful. Everyone is different unfortunately, what works for me may not work for you. CBT - My GP put me onto an online CBT crew called Mood Gym, it's, free and I found it quite enlightening if nothing else, give it a go, at the very least it will give you an insight to what CBT is all about.

for me , when it is just the anxiety I'm battling, exercise is the key. Anxiety  goes hand in hand with adrenaline, the more adrenaline you burn the better and more in control you are of the anxiety, give it ago what have you got to loose

[lzeukial]

Hi,

until 1980, the American DSM listed the cause of depression and anxiety as unconscious emotional conflicts - a theory that had its origin in Freudian psychology. Then the diagnosis was deleted. As it turns out, the diagnosis may have been right all along.

Anxiety is a symptom - but of what??? It starts in the unconscious. It is not about the surrounding circumstances - it starts in the unconscious. Essentially, the anxiety is a defence, and is perceived by the unconscious as the lesser of 2 evils. The greater of the two evils is often intense rage as a caregiver, intense rage at a spouse, intense rage at life pressures, including self imposed pressures (this is a brief summary). Better the symptom than conscious rage at important people - or so the unconscious thinks. The personality is not the primary problem - though personality traits can exacerbate the problem (perfectionism, "goodism," avoidance of confrontation, etc.).

Psychogenic problems seem to be emotional in origin - mainly, emotions that start in the unconscious. Cognitions are rarely the problem, though occasionally ideas and memories are suppressed/ repressed (i.e. not just emotions). Essentially, the symptoms aid in the repression of unconscious painful and threatening feelings through the creation of a diversion - a preoccupation that helps prevent the unconscious threatening or painful feelings from escaping into consciousness. In short, the feelings are kept in the unconscious through repression and diversion (the presenting symptom).

The best book on the subject is "The Divided Mind" by John Sarno. A related area is ISTDP (Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy), which also looks art psychological defences, though the issues are somewhat different from that of repression/ suppression.

[agobella]

Hi

I have suffering anxiety since my early 20's and now I am in my late 50's. Up until about 3 weeks ago, I was going OK. I am on meds and all of a sudden, last week, my anxiety hit me really bad. I went to my doctor who ordered blood tests and I was hoping that my thryoid was causing my reoccurence of anxiety, but that was not the case. My meds have been doubled and my doctor recommended lots of strenous exercise to the point that I am sweating. I took his advice and I have found that it is helped, also I have very clean kitchen windows..hahhahhah.

I do not want to go down that horrible, scary path again, so I am committed to lots of regular exercise to keep my anxiety at bay. When my anxiety hits, I just want to run and run. Make sure you get a very caring doctor.