Can CBT help with Anxiety?

The short answer is YES! CBT is one of the most well-researched and effective treatments for anxiety disorders. CBT is a type of talk therapy that can help you manage your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are all interconnected. When we have negative thoughts, it can lead to negative feelings and behaviours. CBT can help you identify and challenge these negative thoughts and replace them with more realistic and helpful ones.

CBT can be used to treat a variety of anxiety disorders, including:

  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
  • Social anxiety disorder (SAD)
  • Panic disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Phobias

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CBT can also be helpful for people who are struggling with anxiety-related symptoms, such as:

  • Worry
  • Fear
  • Panic attacks
  • Obsessions and compulsions (classic anxiety safety behaviours)
  • Avoidance (another classic anxiety safety behaviour)

 

CBT can be delivered as a self-help treatment, similar to Balanced People, or as one-to-one short-term therapy, lasting anywhere from 10 to 20 sessions. However, the length of therapy will vary depending on your individual needs but it will become clear quite quickly if it’s going to work.

Here are some specific examples of how CBT, and Balanced People Resources, can be used to treat anxiety:

  • Cognitive restructuring: This involves identifying and challenging negative thoughts and beliefs about yourself, the world, and the future. For example, if you have social anxiety, you might have thoughts such as, “Everyone is going to be judging me” or “I’m going to embarrass myself.” Cognitive restructuring can help you to challenge these thoughts and replace them with more realistic and helpful ones, such as, “Most people are too busy thinking about themselves to notice me” or “Even if I make a mistake, it’s not the end of the world.”
  • Exposure therapy: This involves gradually exposing yourself to the things that you fear or avoid. For example, if you have a phobia of spiders, you might start by looking at pictures of spiders, then watching videos of spiders, and eventually working your way up to being in the same room as a spider. Exposure therapy can help you to learn to manage your anxiety and to reduce your avoidance behaviours.
  • Relaxation techniques: CBT therapists can also teach you relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and meditation, which can help to reduce anxiety symptoms.

 

If you are struggling with anxiety, CBT can be a very effective treatment option. Try our Freemium membership to see if it’s something that might be for you. You can then upgrade to Premium or seek a one-to-one CBT therapist. Good luck!