Anxiety and Phobias Media can play a powerful role in increasing awareness about mental illness. The movie, Amelie, tells a sweet love story of a young woman with social anxiety. A person with social anxiety has an extreme and persistent fear of social situations or social performances in which they may experience embarrassment (Comer, 2014). Not only do social situations cause a person fear, but it may also cause them to avoid those situations all together. The character Amelie has some irrational beliefs and attitudes that she displays, stress plays a role in her anxiety, and there are helpful approaches to address this anxiety. Amelie is portrayed as an introverted and socially awkward person with an active imagination. She was overly sheltered as a child, not allowed to attend school or play with other children because her father feared she had a serious heart defect. At six …show more content…
Cognitive therapies allow a person to identify possible faulty thinking patterns and empower them to replace these thoughts with rational ones. Exposure therapy is a behavioral approach in which an individual faces their stressors while using the new cognitive thinking patterns. Helping people build resilience is imperative to their progress by helping them believe that they have the resources and ability to respond well to stressors and anxious reactions (Comer, 2014). Mindfulness-based stress reduction practices can help repair parts of the brain that may have been affected by trauma or long-term anxieties by greatly reducing the fear response and helping to regulate an individual’s stress response (Bremner, Mishra, Campanella, Shah, Kasher, Evans, Fani, Shah, Reiff, Davis, Vaccarino & Carmody, 2017). Practicing just minutes of mindfulness-based stress reduction each week has been shown to greatly reduce anxiety symptoms (Kelly & Garland,
Foa and her colleagues (2011) created prolonged Exposure (PE) for clients trying to overcome with PTSD that is based on the emotional processing therapy (Foa, 2011). PE treatment plan includes collecting of information associated to both the traumatic experience and the trauma survivor's responses to it, the teaching of breathing retraining techniques, education, the re-experiencing of the trauma in imagination, and in vivo exposure (Foa, 2011). When compared with CPT, PE is a 10-session treatment (60-90 minutes) that is centered on both in-vivo and imaginal exposure to the trauma memory and ensuing adaptation. PE reports that repetitive stimulation of the trauma memory allows the clients to integrate new, counteractive information about themself and their world. Additionally, homework assignments in PE allow the client to face safe situations, which were formerly resolute to be threatening based upon inaccurate post-traumatic beliefs (Foa,
This theory proposes that a traumatic event produces maladaptive assumptions and beliefs about the world, other people, and the self that interfere with recovery (Schultz, Barnes-Proby, Chandra, Jaycox, Maher, & Pecora, 2012). CBITS uses cognitive-behavioral techniques (for example, psychoeducation, relaxation, social problem solving, cognitive restructuring, and exposure). Cognitive-behavioral therapies work to teach people skills to combat these underlying issues, including correction of maladaptive assumptions, processing the traumatic experience instead of avoiding it, learning new ways to reduce anxiety and solve problems, building peer and parent support, and building confidence to confront stress in the future (Schultz, et al.,
An examination of current literature in the field of psychology has shown that cognitive behavioral therapy is an empirically supported and effective treatment type for a multitude of disorders, especially a variety of anxiety disorders.
Many advocates of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) believe that changing the way one thinks can greatly impact one’s emotional response (Shurick et al., 2012). In his 1985 cognitive theory of anxiety Beck asserted, “that maladaptive thought patterns play a central role in the development and maintenance of anxiety” (Beck, Emery, & Greenberg, 1985, p. 12). In his theory Beck proposes that cognitive change is necessary in the treatment of anxiety disorders, and that this can be achieved directly through cognitive restructuring (Nortje & Möller, 2008). In cognitive restructuring the patient and therapist collaborate to alter core beliefs as well as reappraise and reinterpret stimuli in a less negative way in order to reduce negative affect (Shurick
Mindful based stress reduction is an eight week program that helps people with stress anxiety and many other forms of medical related conditions. This program was created in 1979 by Dr John Kabalt Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. This program is based on yoga and meditation technique. This treatment derives from ancient healing methods as well. This form of treatment is to develop to join the mind and body. Dr Zinn defines this technique as a way to become more mindful.The topic of choice I chose was to test the Effects of Mindful based stressed reduction in military veterans with post traumatic stress disorder and promoting psychological well being. Post traumatic stress disorder is a psychiatric disorder that has
His childhood is characterized by feelings of betrayal and alienation as his parents discarded him to boarding school and his older brother abandoned him to Hollywood. He has perceived adulthood as a condition characterized by deceit and falsity- constantly aware of all the ‘phonies’ around him and was persistently rejecting the transition into adulthood. Similarly, Amelie’s self-perception of ostracisation stems from the isolation she experienced in her youth as she was homeschooled due to an alleged heart condition which separated her from what was considered ‘normal’. The effects these neglected childhoods’ have on the protagonists prevails through the characters’ inabilities to cope as they embody childish characteristics in search for justified closure of their pasts. Amelie’s childish tendencies are represented through her active imagination, exemplified
The prolific success rates of mindfulness-based therapeutic techniques among the body of evidence only highlights how we can further incorporate mindfulness into not only psychological treatments, but also into our daily lives as preventative measures against unnecessary distress. The cognitive perceptual and interpretive control afforded via mindfulness practices seems to influence the appraisal of the situation at hand affects our reaction and response to it. The advantageous ability to objectively reflect on an issue before responding is not confined only to the realm of treating psychological symptoms.
In the novel, Finding Audrey, by Sophie Kinsella, Audrey has to face her fears to beat an anxiety disorder to overcome with help from her family and friends. Audrey has to face her fears in the novel by overcoming her anxiety disorder. For example, Audrey is asked to make a documentary of her family, “...‘At first, you can film as the outsider. Fly-on-the-wall. Do you know what that means, ‘fly-on-the-wall’?’
Many people experience butterflies in their stomach, sweaty palms, pounding of the heart or a combination of all three in intimidating social situations. But for many, over 15 million American adults, “this anxiety causes extreme self-consciousness in everyday social or performance situations” (SAD Brochure, pg. 2). For these individuals, their anxiety occurs during simple tasks like ordering food or making a phone call. This brochure attempts to inform their audience about what Social Anxiety Disorder is, how this disorder affects these individuals, and how to get treatment for it. The ADAA has created this Social Anxiety Disorder brochure, that incorporates many “adapting strategies” (Penrose and Katz 2010, pg. 205), appeals
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that is mixed with behavioral therapy because of its form of problem solving. It is thought of as a self-help approach that is used to investigate an individual’s cognitive process along with their feelings and behavior. Research states that “Self-help treatments involve minimal cost, resources and disruption and as such are acceptable to the wider population” (Boyle et al., 2011). The goal of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is to redirect the patterns of cognitive thinking or actions that individuals find difficult. In other words, it is intensely used to discover an individual’s negative form of thinking, investigate how it is related to their negative behaviors
Includes in-vivo, imaginal, or narrative (oral and/or written) exposures to traumatic memories, situations, or stimuli. These therapies also generally include elements of cognitive restructuring (e.g., evaluating the accuracy of beliefs about danger) as well as relaxation techniques.
She stated that anxiety started after high school when she felt pressure to go to college. There is no evidence to support that client has learning disabilities. Hannah reported that she thought the change would help improve her life. She stated that she thought moving out on her own would shift her into independence. However, client reports that her anxiety has been worse. Reportedly, she has difficulty spending too much time alone. Hannah recalled her recent experience meeting with friends at a coffee shop and reported that during the entire outing she experienced persistent thoughts of going home. She stated concerns about the possibility of losing her friends due to the anxiety. Hannah reflected on how social life when she lived with her parent and reports her new social difficulties. Client reported that her anxiety is stopping her from making friends. Hannah works as a freelance photographer. Anxiety has been stopping her photography. Hannah reported that she has been receiving less work and took the responsibility for the decline in work. Client reports some of her anxiety symptoms as shaking, hot flashes and sweating. In addition she reports having many flooding thoughts that others may think she is stupid, she can’t do her job, she’s an idiot, weirdo, or everyone is looking at her. She reported that those thoughts make her feel she should give up and she is an idiot. Hannah reports that when anxious while working, she has the tendency to clinch tight onto the camera. Reportedly, her shaking interferes with her taking photos. Client reported that had resorted to wearing black to work and many places to conceal the evidence of her sweating due to her
comparable results for depression as antidepressant medications, making it a successful treatment alternative to medication. (Thoma, Pilecki, et al., 2015, p. 433) Since this is predicted to become such a major issue, the treatment for depression has become extremely important. According to Rachman, Cognitive behavioral therapy is also successful for the uses of treating obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety. For example, Salkovski 's analysis of OCD became an important part of the cognitive behavioral therapy model, which helped therapists focus on the client 's thoughts and feelings regarding their compulsive behaviors and urges. (Rachman, 2014, p.5) In the field of anxiety, studies also found that cognitive behavioral therapy showed favorable results in lowering symptoms for those diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. One of the majority methods of therapy for anxiety disorders is exposure therapy, which is the process when a client is directly confronted with the object that they fear throughout sessions. The process starts out slowly, until the last session where the client comes into direct contact with the object they fear. (Thoma, Pilecki, et al., 2015, p. 438)
Among all anxiety problems, social anxiety disorder is most common anxiety issue and third most common problem in all mental complications (American Psychiatric Association, 2000; Hofmann & Bogels, 2006). SAD is a mental disorder which has a tendency to become chronic and badly disturbs normal functions of life if not diagnosed and treated in time (Beesdo-Baum, et al., 2012; Garcia-Lopez, Piqueras, Diaz-Castela, & Ingles, 2008). It is also among the most prevailing mental disorders and is described in Criterion A of DSM-V as “Marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others. Examples include social interactions (e.g., having a conversation, meeting unfamiliar people), being observed (e.g., eating or drinking), and performing in front of others (e.g., giving a speech)” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). A specific amount of anxiety is always anticipated socially and helps an individual managing future threats (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). But having social anxiety means that anxiety is too much for normal functioning during social situations and often interferes with
Between pursuits of her love interest, Amelie takes it upon herself to help the other characters in the film. Through her interactions with the other characters, A great contrast can be seen between the title character and the supporting cast. Whereas Amelie seems to bend the rules of reality with her imagination, many of the other character are locked down by their inability to imagine other possibilities. In helping these characters, Amelie's imagination also expands their imaginations and beliefs.