Racing thoughts, constant worry, and physical symptoms with no clear cause can make living with anxiety exhausting and frustrating. While medication can help manage symptoms, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective, long-term treatments for anxiety.
What is CBT? How does it work? Can it help my anxiety? At Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PC, in Hastings and Grand Island, Nebraska, our team includes a licensed mental health practitioner who’s here to answer your questions and guide you toward relief.
CBT is a form of mental health counseling that focuses on the connections between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The idea behind CBT is that what you think affects how you feel, and how you feel influences what you do.
Through CBT, you learn to recognize negative or unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with more balanced, realistic ones. CBT is highly structured, goal-oriented, and short-term, giving you tools you can apply in your everyday life.
CBT is highly effective for treating anxiety disorders because it targets the thoughts and behaviors that fuel the fear and worry.
Anxiety disorders are serious mental health conditions that cause persistent, excessive worry that affects daily life. Common types include:
While each type has its own triggers and symptoms, CBT is a modifiable technique that can address them all.
For example, people with panic disorder have unexpected episodes of symptoms like shortness of breath, dizziness, and heart palpitations. These symptoms can trigger catastrophic thoughts, such as “I can’t breathe” or “I’m going to die.” CBT helps reframe these thoughts into more realistic ones, such as, “This feels scary, but it will pass,” helping to reduce the intensity of the panic response.
For those with GAD, worry may center around everyday situations such as finances, work, or routine tasks. CBT helps identify and challenge the thought patterns driving the worry while introducing practical tools like relaxation techniques (such as deep breathing) and gradual exposure.
Your CBT experience is tailored to your specific type of anxiety, symptoms, and personal goals. However, most treatment plans follow a similar structure.
After an initial evaluation and explanation of CBT, your therapist helps you set goals and identify patterns in your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. You then learn specific strategies to reshape negative thinking and respond differently to anxiety triggers.
You practice these skills during sessions and on your own between visits.
As therapy progresses, you may then add behavioral techniques, such as deep breathing, guided imagery, or progressive muscle relaxation. As your skills and confidence improve, your therapist gradually exposes you to anxiety-provoking situations, testing your new tools and helping you feel less overwhelmed.
CBT is a standard treatment for anxiety, but the best approach depends on your individual needs, goals, and preferences.
If you’re ready to actively participate in your care and practice strategies outside of therapy sessions, CBT may work for you. During your initial evaluation, our mental health counselor determines whether CBT or another approach is right for you.
Anxiety doesn’t have to control your life. With the right tools and support, you can learn to manage your thoughts, reduce your symptoms, and feel more like yourself again.
Call Obstetricians & Gynecologists, PC, today to schedule an appointment with our mental health counselor. You can also request an appointment online.
