Anxiety And Group Therapy

An anxiety disorder is defined as a medical condition whereby persistent and excessive worry interferes with a person’s ability to undertake mundane tasks. Anxiety is the most common mental disorder, affecting 14% of Australians per annum. However, this represents all forms of anxiety, and each classification has different symptoms. One form of anxiety is known as Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). GAD is recognized by the presentation of a variety of symptoms such as a racing heart, shortness of breath, shaking, sweating, chills, hot flashes, chest pain and nausea.

Any form of human behavior can be discussed at the four levels of explanation in psychology. These include the biological, personal, basic processes and socio cultural levels. …show more content…
Many people currently live with or have overcome an anxiety disorder utilizing various forms of treatment and coping strategies. One form of treatment can be explained through the sociocultural level of explanation. The sociocultural level of explanation positions the individual as part of a social system, stressing how social relationships are crucial for successful therapy. A common form of therapy used in this context is group therapy. Group therapy may be effective in treating GAD by allowing a person to discuss their thoughts and feelings to help control their worries and also to help identify the triggers for their anxiety. Another benefit of group therapy is the benefit of shared experiences, which allow for a greater understanding of individual problems. This level of understanding and connection with people is important for those suffering with mental illnesses as they can often feel alone and isolated in their normal community. An additional form of treatment can be described by the biological level of explanation. Biological therapies are designed to alter the way an individual 's body functions in order to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of psychological disorders. The most common type of this therapy is using medical drugs. Antianxiety drugs are also known as benzodiazepines and include Xanax, valium and Librium. Drugs like Xanax work as a central nervous system depressant, specifically by …show more content…
These factors are used in order to emerge from the adversity functioning either at the same level as they were prior to the difficulty or at an enhanced level and this is important for mental health as it allows the person to maintain their mental health or grow from the experience. Factors on the personal level which could enhance a person’s resilience could include developing positive beliefs about ones own abilities. Research has demonstrated that self-esteem plays an important role in coping with stress and recovering from difficult events. Confidence in the ability to respond and deal with crisis is effective at building future resilience. Additionally, using positive thoughts and optimism allows a person to establish a positive outlook on an otherwise unpleasant situation. This can be beneficial in helping them work through the issue by encouraging the use of their own skillset to work through and around the issue to develop resilience. Furthermore, another strategy which can be explained via the sociocultural level is the development of a strong social network. Having a support system acts as a protective factor for people during times that require resilience. Social networks allow a person to share their troubles, gain support, feedback and advice as to possible