CBT AND THE BODY
The perception of threat activates the sympathetic nervous system and triggers an acute stress response that prepares the body to FIGHT, FLEE OR FREEZE (FFF). These responses are evolutionary adaptations to increase chances of survival in threatening situations. Overly frequent, intense, or inappropriate activation of the fight or flight response is implicated in a range of clinical conditions including most anxiety disorders.
Can you relate to these symptoms?
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The aim of behaviour therapy is to teach you techniques or skills to alter your behaviour. For example, a person who behaves shyly at a party may have negative thoughts and feelings about themselves. They may also lack social skills.
Behaviour therapy teaches you more helpful behaviours. For example, you may be taught conversational skills that you practise in therapy and in social situations. Negative thoughts and feelings reduce as you discover you can enjoy yourself in social situations.
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CBT AND THOUGHTS
Thoughts and emotions have a profound effect on one another. Thoughts can trigger emotions (worrying about an upcoming job interview may cause fear) and also serve as an appraisal of that emotion (“this isn't a realistic fear”).
In CBT, you will learn to identify thinking patterns in your everyday life that are causing painful emotions or other problems. Then, by developing new thoughts, you will learn to change how you feel.
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CBT AND EMOTIONS
Usually when we are overwhelmed, emotion feels like a tidal wave of discomfort, but we don’t stop to clarify the components of that emotion. As a result, we have great difficulty doing anything about our mood other than waiting for it to pass all on its own.
In CBT we develop crucial insight into the factors that are maintaining or worsening our unpleasant emotion. Practicing the skill of identifying all of the parts of the emotion using the CBT model, we become more skilful at steering our moods toward more effective responses, thinking and acting skilfully in the moment to actively handle the challenges of the situation at hand.
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CBT AND BEHAVIOURS
OTHER RESOURCES