Body Acceptance Week: Celebrating Diversity a ..
Nov 06 - 2024
Overcoming Fears (Phobias) and Anxiety
About 10% of the population suffers from phobias or anxiety disorders. That means that in a room of 30 people, three of them are likely to be experiencing anxiety or fear. This impacts their lives in a negative way.
For many people, their fear or anxiety is manageable and does not stop them from having a full and happy life. Some, however, have debilitating fear or anxiety that keeps them from doing what they want or living the life they want.
Having a fear or anxiety that's affecting your life can be tough, so you may wonder how you can get over it. In this article, we will explore some of the ways that you can overcome your fears and anxiety.
Acknowledge
Acknowledging what's causing your fears and anxiety is the first thing you have to do if you want to overcome them. Often, our fears and anxiety are based on irrational thoughts and beliefs. Once we identify the thoughts and beliefs that are causing our fears and anxiety, we can start to challenge and change them.
Challenge
To challenge and change the thoughts and beliefs that are causing your fears and anxiety, you should use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is a type of therapy that helps you identify and change the negative thoughts and beliefs that are causing your fears and anxiety.
CBT is usually done with the help of a therapist, but there are also many self-help CBT books and resources available. Just like this book that we have called “The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook”. This book was written by a leading expert in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This fully revised and updated seventh edition offers powerful, step-by-step treatment strategies for panic disorders, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), worry, and fear. You will also find helpful information on relapse prevention after successful treatment, and updates on medication, cannabis derivatives, ketamine, exposure, nutrition, spirituality, the latest research in neurobiology, and more.
Remember, if you're planning to try CBT on your own, make sure you get a scientifically proven self-help book or resource. You can browse other mental health resources here at Therapists Share Space.
Expose
Another way to overcome your fears and anxiety is to expose yourself to the things that you are afraid of. Despite what it sounds like, exposure therapy is a proven way to deal with anxiety and fears.
Exposure therapy works by gradually exposing you to the things that you are afraid of. This can be done in a safe and controlled environment, such as with a therapist, or it can be done in real-life situations. Exposure therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for many different types of phobias and anxiety disorders.
Don't worry if you're one of the 10% who is struggling with a fear or anxiety that's impacting your life, there are things you can do to overcome it. This is not yet the end. You can still find people who are willing to help you, like us mental health professionals. And keep in mind that it is okay to ask for help.
