Anxiety disorder
An anxiety disorder is characterised by experiencing unreasonable anxiety and fear in certain situations. Fear is an innate emotional response to perceived threats and is indispensable for the survival of the individual and the species. The natural fear response triggers a multitude of physical and emotional mechanisms (e.g. increased blood pressure, accelerated pulse, muscle contraction, alertness, etc.).
In an anxiety disorder, intense anxiety arises although the cause of this anxiety cannot explain its severity. A distinction is made between phobias (a specific fear, for example of confined spaces or elevator rides = claustrophobia) and generalised anxiety (not focused on an object or situation) such as panic disorder, for instance. In this case, brief attacks of panic seem to come “out of nowhere“.
weiter zur Therapie...
In an anxiety disorder, intense anxiety arises although the cause of this anxiety cannot explain its severity. A distinction is made between phobias (a specific fear, for example of confined spaces or elevator rides = claustrophobia) and generalised anxiety (not focused on an object or situation) such as panic disorder, for instance. In this case, brief attacks of panic seem to come “out of nowhere“.
weiter zur Therapie...
Today, behaviour therapy has become the treatment of choice for anxiety disorders. Together with the patient, his personal “vicious circle” of fear is analysed: What physical and emotional processes are involved when an anxiety attack occurs? What kind of reaction does this cause? Usually, every anxiety attack goes along with avoidance behaviour (avoiding the anxiety-causing situations). For this reason, the aim of the second step of treatment is to give up this avoidance and face the anxiety-causing situation. This enables the patient to experience that the feeling of fear and anxiety usually becomes less intense in this case, while it tends to become stronger when the anxiety-causing situation is being avoided (in some cases, patients even become “afraid of being afraid“).
In the case of personality disorders, which are often related to generalised and existential fears, a structure-building form of therapy is used: through self-observation and dialogue with the therapist, the patient is enabled to better manage and control the anxiety-causing situations. The treatment is complemented by art therapy using creative activities such as painting and drawing or working with clay and other visual materials.
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In the case of personality disorders, which are often related to generalised and existential fears, a structure-building form of therapy is used: through self-observation and dialogue with the therapist, the patient is enabled to better manage and control the anxiety-causing situations. The treatment is complemented by art therapy using creative activities such as painting and drawing or working with clay and other visual materials.
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