Why Is Therapy Important For Treating Anxiety
Therapy is important for treating anxiety because it transfers to patients the ability to allay their own distress any time it strikes. The skills that patients gain in therapy last far beyond the period of therapy, and endow patients with confidence that they do not have to be preoccupied with their own thoughts, they can cope with their feelings without being incapacitated by worry, they do not have to avoid situations or experiences that make them anxious, and they can develop more productive ways to manage their concerns and release the tension of anxiety. Those are skills typically acquired through the content of therapy.
Therapy also contributes to healing in ways no other treatment can. Because of the way the human nervous system is built, the presence of the therapist has a physiological effect that calms. Anxiety is a response to perceived danger. The presence of a friendly human being is possibly natures most powerful signal of safety it activates a branch of the nervous system that slows down the heart rate and breathing, releases muscle tension, and mitigates alertness to danger.
Why Therapy Is Great For Anxiety And Mental Health
The symptoms of an anxiety disorder can be debilitating: sleepless nights, racing thoughts, panic attacks that strike out of nowhere. Fortunately, anxiety is a highly treatable condition.
The symptoms of an anxiety disorder can be debilitating: sleepless nights, racing thoughts, panic attacks that strike out of nowhere. Fortunately, anxiety is a highly treatable condition. A study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health found that over half of all patients who received therapy for anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions experienced significant improvement in their symptoms.With such a high success rate, its surprising to note that many people still do not seek out therapy because of perceived stigma. Some people are ashamed of seeming weak or broken, while others are afraid of what therapy may entail. The truth is, there are innumerable benefits to therapy for anxiety and mental health starting with a vastly improved quality of life.
Making Anxiety Therapy Work For You
There is no quick fix for anxiety. Overcoming an anxiety disorder takes time and commitment. Therapy involves facing your fears rather than avoiding them, so sometimes youll feel worse before you get better. The important thing is to stick with treatment and follow your therapists advice. If youre feeling discouraged with the pace of recovery, remember that therapy for anxiety is very effective in the long run. Youll reap the benefits if you see it through.
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What To Expect From Therapy
A common misunderstanding about therapy is that you’ll immediately start to feel better. Sometimes this is the case. But much of the time, you feel worse before you start feeling better. Surprisingly, feeling worse is often a sign of progress. And if you think about it, that makes sense.
When you make the decision to enter into therapy, it’s often because you haven’t been able to work through your anxiety on your own. Therapy involves exploring your anxiety and the reasons behind it in a deeper, more meaningful way. This can cause a temporary spike in your anxiety.
Therapy should never be thought of as a quick fix. It’s a process that’s unique to each individual. The type of therapy you need, the skills, that you learn, and how long you’re in therapy depends entirely on the type of anxiety you have and the severity of your symptoms.
It’s important to understand that though the process won’t always feel good, it will be completely worthwhile in the end.
History Of Equine Therapy
Horses have been used for therapeutic purposes since the time of the ancient Greeks. The Greek physician Hippocrates, known as the “Father of Medicine,” wrote about the therapeutic potential of horseback riding.
Riding became more popular as a therapy tool during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1969, the North American Riding for Handicapped Association was formed, which later became the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International.
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Eye Movement Desensitization And Reprocessing
Intending to reduce the impact of traumatic experiences, EMDR is typically a short-term treatment option. Sessions occur one to two times a week, generally lasting no more than 6 to 12 sessions.
These sessions involve sharing a memory of a traumatic event while the therapist directs your eye movements. The idea is that these eye movements allow you to reprocess and restore the memory of the trauma in a way that doesnt continue to cause trauma symptoms. Some people describe this as taking the power out of the traumatic memory.
While initially developed for the treatment of PTSD,
How Does Therapy Help Anxiety
Heather Lyons, Ph.D.
Whether youre experiencing panic attacks, obsessions and compulsions, or everyday anxiety symptoms, its essential to know that youre not alone. As the most common mental illness in the United States, anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults, or 19.1% of the population, every year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health .
Working with a mental health professional can improve your mental health. For many anxiety disorders, psychotherapy is the most effective treatment. Psychotherapy can help you uncover the underlying causes of your worries and fears, learn how to relax, and develop healthier coping mechanisms and problem-solving skills. Essentially, therapy gives you the necessary tools to overcome anxiety and teaches you how to use them.
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How Does Float Therapy For Anxiety Work
When planning your float therapy session, youll want to pack a swimsuit. Most float therapy sessions last between 60 90 minutes, while some people choose to float for a few hours. If you choose to float at Longevity Effect, we provide you with a shower, towel, earplugs, and anything else you may need to do your float therapy session.
The key feature of float therapy is the float pod, or the sensory deprivation tank, where the actual therapy will take place. In this pod, water is saturated with over 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt and other minerals. When water is saturated with salt, it becomes incredibly easy to float on top of the water. You can float without straining your muscles or worrying that you will sink.
The water you float in and the air temperature in the pod are kept at the same temperature, so you cant differentiate between the different elements within the pod. Once the sensory deprivation tank is shut, all sound and light are sealed off outside of the pod.
Anyone can do float therapy, from children and adults to seniors to pregnant women. Float therapy is a safe alternative therapy that can benefit anyone overwhelmed by the stresses of life.
To learn more about how float therapy works, visit our South Tulsa Float Therapy Service Page here.
Does Float Therapy Help Anxiety
Float therapy is a form of alternative therapy that can be used to alleviate and treat both mental and physical health issues. Over the years, float therapy, along with other alternative forms of treatment, have become more and more popular across the United States and the entire world.
So, can float therapy help those struggling with anxiety? Float therapy can help people struggling with anxiety in many ways:
- The float pod is sound-proof and light-proof, eliminating the stresses and distractions that our senses can cause.
- The patient will experience a weightless environment by floating on saturated salt-water. This will relieve the body from the stress of gravitational pull and the tension the human body tends to carry when anxious.
- Magnesium minerals are mixed into the water for your body to absorb. Magnesium is a natural relaxant.
- Float therapy is proven to decrease blood pressure and lower the heart rate, helping the patient experience relaxation throughout their entire body.
Medications for stress and anxiety can have unknown chemicals and cause negative side effects to your body float therapy is a natural way to eliminate the stressors of life and experience peace and relaxation not only in the mind but also in the body. To know more about how float therapy works and how it can help with anxiety, keep reading.
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Float Therapy Helps To Decrease Blood Pressure And Heart Rate
It is proven that many health issues can be the result of stress and anxiety. Heart diseases, asthma, headaches, diabetes, and gastrointestinal problems can all be brought on or worsened by stress. Great just one more thing to stress out about! The great news is that float therapy can help alleviate this stress from your body and return it to normal levels.
Have you ever noticed that when you start to get anxious you can feel your heartbeat pounding in your chest? This is just one example of stress affecting your body. The great news is the opposite happens when you relax when you start to relax and forget about your problems, your heart rate, and blood pressure will decrease. This can be tremendously beneficial for your health.
How Effective Is Art Therapy For Mental Health
Participating in the arts can enable people to deal with a wide range of mental ill health conditions and psychological distress. The best part is that it helps people to improve their mental health through creativity. Making art is helping many people express themselves, without having to use words45.
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So You’ve Decided To Start Therapy For Your Anxietyhere’s How To Make It Work
If you have made the wise decision that it is time to get help, first of all: good for you. Treatment for anxiety disorders requires a significant investment of time, energy, and effort. If you are going to invest so much, there are a few key things you can do to maximize your chances that your recovery from your anxiety disorder will be successful.
First and foremost, you need to choose a good therapist who specializes in treating anxiety. That starts by making sure your therapist practices evidence-based treatment . For anxiety, this practically always means some form of cognitive behavioral therapy , most often with an emphasis on Exposure Therapy, a form of CBT that has been shown to be particularly effective for anxiety disorders.
You should ask prospective therapists about their treatment methods, what percentage of their caseload is anxiety cases and whether they feel they are typically successful in treating anxiety . The “Find a Therapist Directory” on this website is a good place to start looking for a qualified anxiety specialist.
Once you have found a good therapist, the most important thing you can do is quite simple: trust them.
The importance of trusting your therapist ties into what I have found to be the biggest factor that determines clients’ success in therapy for anxiety: doing your therapy homework.
Psychotherapy For Anxiety Disorders: What To Expect
Psychotherapy is a collaborative process, where psychologists and patients work together to identify specific concerns and develop concrete skills and techniques for coping with anxiety. Patients can expect to practice their new skills outside of sessions to manage anxiety in situations that might make them uncomfortable. However, psychologists wont push patients into such scenarios until theyre sure they have the skills they need to effectively confront their fears.
Psychologists sometimes use other approaches to treat anxiety disorders in addition to CBT. Group psychotherapy, which typically involves several people who all have anxiety disorders, can be effective for both treating anxiety and providing patients with support.
Family psychotherapy can help family members understand their loved ones anxiety and help them learn ways to interact that do not reinforce anxious habits. Family therapy can be particularly helpful for children and adolescents suffering from anxiety disorders.
Anxiety disorders are very treatable. Most patients who suffer from anxiety are able to reduce or eliminate symptoms after several months of psychotherapy, and many patients notice improvement after just a few sessions.
Psychologists are highly trained and will tailor a treatment plan to address the unique needs of each patient. To find a licensed psychologist in your area, visit Psychologist Locator.
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Pressure Points For Anxiety Relief
The point is located between your eyebrows. Your massage therapist applies pressure at the impression point to aid in both stress and anxiety. You sit comfortably and close your eyes as the therapist touches the spot while taking slow and deep breaths.
2. Heavenly Gate Point
The spot is situated in the ear at the upper shell. It is the tip of the triangle-like hollow. Therapists stimulate the heavenly gate point to aid in relieving stress, insomnia, and anxiety. Massage therapy for anxiety entails applying firm and gentle pressure at the cosmic point in circular motions for a few minutes.
3. Shoulder WellPoint
The pressure point is in the shoulder muscle. It relieves muscle tension, headaches, and stress. However, talk to your massage therapist before the therapy session to avoid using this pressure point if you are pregnant.
4. Great Surge
The point is on foot below the big and second toe intersection. The significant surge lies in the hollow above your bone. That point assists in reducing anxiety. Massage therapy for anxiety entails applying firm and deep pressure to the great surge point.
Other Alternative Therapies Used To Treat Anxiety
If youre looking for natural ways to treat your anxiety, the good news is that many different alternative therapies can help relieve stress in your body and mind. Here is a list of the most common alternative therapies used to treat anxiety:
- Meditation
- Acupuncture
- Float Therapy
At Longevity Effect, we offer many of these alternative therapies to treat stress and anxiety. The benefits of float therapy far outweigh the costs. If youd like to schedule an appointment for chiropractic work, acupuncture, or float therapy, contact us here.
There are many great advantages to attending a float therapy session. If youre someone who deals with stress and anxiety, float therapy can help you relax in both your body and mind. If youd like to know more about our Midtown Tulsa float therapy sessions, read our article, Float Therapy Frequently Asked Questions: Complete Guide.
About Longevity Effect
Longevity Effect is an escape from everyday stress and pursues total wellness through healing services for the mind and body. Our Philosophy is that a focus on general health and wellness today will help reduce long-term health issues and associated costs.
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What Is Equine Therapy
Equine-assisted psychotherapy incorporates horses into the therapeutic process. People engage in activities such as grooming, feeding, and leading a horse while being supervised by a mental health professional.
Goals of this form of therapy including helping people develop skills such as emotional regulation, self-confidence, and responsibility. With mature horses weighing anywhere in the range of 900 to 2,000 pounds or more, it might feel a bit intimidating to have such a large, majestic creature participating in your therapy sessions.
However, equine-assisted therapy is growing in popularity due to its experiential approach and some burgeoning evidence of its effectiveness. There are a variety of terms used to describe or reference equine-assisted psychotherapy, including:
- Equine-assisted mental health
- Equine-facilitated psychotherapy
- Equine-assisted therapy
The last term, equine-assisted therapy, can also often refer to other forms of therapy where horses are used, such as with occupational therapy.