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Cognitive behaviour therapy can help those suffering from problems and
illnesses such as anxiety, stress, panic attacks and improve the outlook
of those who suffer from extreme shyness and low self-esteem issues. All
of these illnesses and problems often need help from different sources
such as medication and cognitive behaviour therapy, cognitive behaviour
therapy can help the person suffering by changing the way that people
think and feel about their illness and symptoms.
The therapist can show the person ways they can help themselves to better
deal with their problems and the symptoms of illness, by conditioning
their mind to think and behave differently. Some effective techniques
to cognitive therapy and ones which are commonly used in treatment are
* Slowing down, talking slower, walking slower, floating past problems
* Stopping automatic negative thinking
* Acceptance and letting go
* Rational and helpful statements or affirmations
* Listen to your true self
* Becoming focused and determined
* Facing your fears, accepting, floating and letting time pass
All of the above techniques are commonly used in cognitive behavioural
therapy to help us deal with a wide variety of problems and symptoms that
show as part of illness due to anxiety and stress. All of the techniques
can be classed as self-help methods, in that once taught them the sufferer
can use them in their daily life to help them overcome particular problems.
One of the easiest techniques and one which is very popular, and was designed
by a Doctor called Dr Claire Weeks', particularly aimed at those suffering
from anxiety and panic attacks is the facing, accepting and float past
fear technique. This technique is easy to learn and is one which has helped
thousands of sufferers of panic and anxiety attacks recover and get them
back to a normal life.
* The first step is facing your fears and seeing them for what they are
just feelings - the person suffering from panic attacks will have forgotten
all about the reason the attacks first appeared and instead will now be
terrified of the attacks and the symptoms they bring. By facing, that
the attacks only occur because of your fright of them is the first step
to recovering and being free of them.
* The second step is accepting them - instead of shrinking away from the
signs and symptoms that appear during a panic or anxiety attack welcome
them and take a good long look at them and see them for what they are
nothing more than feelings brought on by your fear of them.
* The third step towards recovery is floating past the feelings - admit
to yourself that for a while these symptoms and signs are going to be
with you for a while yet. So while they are, just accept that and think
of yourself floating past them, this means you should not be too concerned
about them and you could do this be imagining yourself floating on a cloud
past the obstacles that you know will bring on an attack.
Whereas before you might avoid going shopping because you know you will
have a panic attack, instead go to the shops but instead of thinking "I'm
going to have a panic attack" change your thoughts and think "I may have
an attack but I can float past it". If you do have a panic attack and
you probably will at first, as calmly as you can let the feelings wash
over you and float on your cloud past the symptoms you used to shy away
from.
* Let time pass - instead of worrying that the attacks and symptoms aren't
going away let time pass without worrying, by worrying this way you aren't
really accepting them and facing them. One day without realising it, you
will be free of the signs and symptoms that have held you back perhaps
for many years.
While the above example states panic attacks, this cure can be used and
will work with many other forms of illness, those who suffer from low
self-esteem issues, those who are extremely shy and just about any other
problem where fear is the basis of the problem.
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