Cognitive behavioural Therapy

subscriber

Hi there,

could anyone please tell me if they have ever had any dealings with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy? Ive been referred by my GP for this for chronic generalised anxiety disorder and don't really know what to expect from the sessions or appointment.

Have you found it has helped you with your issues , problems, worries and what does it focus on, what strategies do they use for coping mechanisms?

Mods, im not looking for medical advice, rather feedback from the type of therapy and weather has or hasn't been successful for other individuals and a small insight as to what the therapy entails.

Look forward to some replies.

Many thanks

LegacyUser

Basically it's about establishing patterns and routines and habits for dealing with whatever issues you're having that are causing your anxiety.

By example, if you're at work, and having issues with a colleague, you basically systematically determine a behavioral pattern that you will incorporate at that time, to deal with this situation.

It can apply in a variety of area's however; such as with insomniac's, for example.
They effectively determine a logarithm of behavior that will ensure for them that they are relaxed and reposed at the time they intend to sleep.

It's something you'll participate in with others initially, but you'll be expected to determine your own routines and solve your own "equations", basically, as you move along with the therapy.

subscriber

AllTheAnswers wrote: »

Basically it's about establishing patterns and routines and habits for dealing with whatever issues you're having that are causing your anxiety.

By example, if you're at work, and having issues with a colleague, you basically systematically determine a behavioral pattern that you will incorporate at that time, to deal with this situation.

It can apply in a variety of area's however; such as with insomniac's, for example.
They effectively determine a logarithm of behavior that will ensure for them that they are relaxed and reposed at the time they intend to sleep.

It's something you'll participate in with others initially, but you'll be expected to determine your own routines and solve your own "equations", basically, as you move along with the therapy.

sounds interesting, Sounds like it focuses more on the now of the anxiety issue rather than on the triggers that may have caused the initial anxiety from when it first manifested itself. I have tried traditional counselling therapy before with no success and could never identify any triggers that first set this off this condition, that may be because there were none and it is an actual mental or physiological condition that I developed somehow, or maybe genetical or something I inherited from some side of my family tree.

any idea the frequency of sessions in traditional CBT and for how long a course of it usually lasts? I realise this may be dependent on my needs but just trying to grasp an idea of what it has been for others?? Also, if they have seen any real benefits from this type of therapy in comparison with other therapy's, that including general counselling, alternative therapy's, and gp prescribed medication??

I am really after a long term solution to eradicate my anxiety problems and not something to mask ongoing symptoms as I have done this in the past and it does not solve problems , merely suppress things deeper causing further ongoing problems.

Look forward to more replies / taught's / experiences on this??

LegacyUser

subscriber wrote: »

sounds interesting, Sounds like it focuses more on the now of the anxiety issue rather than on the triggers that may have caused the initial anxiety from when it first manifested itself.

Well, yeah I guess.

By example, if ones anxiety is being caused by a contentious situation at work, it "teaches", how you can approach that situation more effectively.
I use the inverted comma's, as ultimately, it will be up to yourself as to what approach you will take.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by the "initial anxiety" reference, but perhaps you mean that say - to take again that work scenario - that might be a small part of a big picture?
If one was having trouble with one individual in particular, it may be a product of a lacking in a larger area, but just highlighted on the smaller scale.

Often times this can happen when one changes their situation: a new job, by example, moving into a different "environment".
Out of their comfort zone.

Well, either way, it generally serves as an overall approach toward self improvement.
You'll probably find yourself improving in area's you may not have even realized needed improving, previously.

I have tried traditional counseling therapy before with no success and could never identify any triggers that first set this off this condition, that may be because there were none and it is an actual mental or physiological condition that I developed somehow, or maybe genetical or something I inherited from some side of my family tree.

The genetics argument is always interesting, and I'm not sure it's one that can be nailed down with certainty.
The old adage, "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree", is often thought as a product of genetics, but during our very formative years (the ones we were hardly conscious of), we tend to adopt the behavioral patterns of our closest nurturers, and thus grow in their likeness, in a sense.

As far as your reference to it being a "condition", again, it's a very interesting one.

Genetic "conditions" that are passed down such as depression, anxiety etc - are they a product of actual gene inheritance?
Or basically taking the "same road", figuratively speaking, as our nurturers, due to our adoption of their behavioral patterns - both good and bad facets.

There's a whole other side to that argument, which encapsulates the fact that roughly 50% of our DNA is actually made up of ancient viruses bound within protein compounds.
They're known as retro-virals.
Their escape from these confines is what causes the manifestation of said diseases.

But these can often manifest later in life; closely, to well after, the most intense nurturing phase.
So again, it raises the question; a product of genetic inheritance?
Or behavioral pattern adaptation, as regards the problem manifestation.

I guess that's a whole other area that stems outward, so I guess that's probably for another thread (and forum).

any idea the frequency of sessions in traditional CBT and for how long a course of it usually lasts? I realise this may be dependent on my needs but just trying to grasp an idea of what it has been for others?? Also, if they have seen any real benefits from this type of therapy in comparison with other therapy's, that including general counselling, alternative therapy's, and gp prescribed medication??

I am really after a long term solution to eradicate my anxiety problems and not something to mask ongoing symptoms as I have done this in the past and it does not solve problems , merely suppress things deeper causing further ongoing problems.

I'm not sure about frequency etc of therapy sessions, but I guess you'd be correct in saying it may vary from one individual to the next.
The general aim of CBT, is to get you on your feet, and ultimately, you find your own solution.

As regards it's advantages over general counseling and medication etc. again, I couldn't say with certainty, but you mention the desire for a long term solution, so again, depending on your issue, the source or cause of your anxiety, should CBT be fitting to your case, it should certainly offer that.