Anxiety
Reviewed By
Dr Lizzie Leahy - Clinical Psychologist, CBT Therapist, NHS and Private Practice
All emotions serve a purpose - anxiety is like your body’s fire alarm. It alerts you when something might need your attention, but sometimes it goes off even when there is no real danger. The alarm itself is not the problem. It is the way we respond to it, such as avoiding things or constantly checking for danger, that can keep anxiety going. Learning new ways to respond to anxiety can help us feel more in control.
References
Barlow, D. H., Sauer-Zavala, S., Farchione, T. J., Latin, H. M., Ellard, K. K., Bullis, J. R., Bentley, K. H., Boettcher, H. T., & Cassiello-Robbins, C. (2017). Understanding your emotions—What is an emotion? In D. H. Barlow et al., Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (2nd ed., pp. 41–52). Oxford University Press. Carpenter, J. K., Andrews, L. A., Witcraft, S. M., Powers, M. B., Smits, J. A. J., & Hofmann, S. G. (2018). Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Depression and Anxiety, 35(6), 502–514. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). (2011). Common mental health problems: Identification and pathways to care (CG123). NICE.