Tag: therapy for anxiety disorder

Recognizing the Early Signs of Mental Health Concerns

Taking care of your mental health is as important as looking after your physical well-being.
When we actively take care of our mental health, it seeps into various aspects of our lives, such as our work how we socialize with others and our overall morale. It is important to address our mental health needs and seeing a mental health counselor can be significant in improving your overall wellbeing and lifestyle.

Visiting a therapist for an assessment can be the first step in identifying mental health issues that you may be struggling with and creating a treatment plan to tackle it. If you are feeling hesitant or unsure if it is time to seek some support, here are a few behaviors and feelings you may relate to, that could be impacting your wellbeing.

Stress exists in our lives in various ways. It can be from work, school, or significant life events. It can make us feel as though we have little to no control over a situation and can threaten our sense of self. When stress becomes prolonged and overwhelming, it can lead to lack of sleep, irritability, muscle tension, substance use, and withdrawal from social affairs. Managing stress can be tricky and at times difficult, a mental health therapist can support you in identifying methods to tackle and reduce the stress you are feeling.

Our moods can change throughout the day, which is natural. Our mood can be influenced by many different experiences such as interactions with people we encounter to certain thoughts we have. Extreme mood changes, however, can affect our lives negatively and create dysfunction. If you are experiencing extreme mood changes which are impacting you, booking an appointment for psychotherapy in Dubai can guide you in regulating and handling intense mood changes.

When we feel overwhelmed with intrusive thoughts and stress, we tend to isolate ourselves from family, friends and even shy away from carrying out routine hobbies. Although this can happen unintentionally, humans are social beings who rely on each other for self-actualization and belonging. Isolation from social settings over a long period of time can intensify feelings of anxiety and depression. Seeking support for our mental health can be beneficial as it can be focused on certain behaviors that impact us most, for example therapy for anxiety disorder can be significant in reducing nervousness, feelings of dread or panic.

Other indicators include:
● Significant tiredness, low energy or fatigue
● Changes in mood, appetite, and sleeping habits
● Difficulty concentrating or staying focused
● Excessive anger, hostility, or violence
● Problems with alcohol or drug use
● Trouble understanding and relating to situations and to people
● Sex drive changes
● Suicidal thinking
● Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above or noticing other signs of declining mental health, you may book an appointment for consultation with one of our specialists. Our experienced professionals will evaluate your current mental state and design a treatment plan that is appropriate for your condition. Human Relations Institute and Clinics are a psychology-based practice based in Dubai, UAE, providing mental health and psychological services to individuals and businesses in the Middle East and abroad.

Types of Therapy for Anxiety and What To Expect

While nervousness or worry is a natural response to a perceived threat, some people may experience chronic levels that can lead to anxiety when coping with life-changing events. If your anxiety level becomes consistent, overwhelming, and disruptive, it may develop into a mental health difficulty. When this happens, it is best to visit a mental health therapist.

Depending on the severity of your experience, anxiety can be treated through a combination of medication and therapy or only therapy. Expecting a quick fix is not realistic. Working through anxiety may take some time and it will require patience to do so.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below, consider seeking mental health services:

  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Excessive worrying and difficulty controlling the thoughts
  • Sleeping problems, fatigue, and insomnia
  • Muscle tension, and headaches
  • Digestive problems
  • Irritability
  • Low self-esteem
  • Rapid heart rate

Is anxiety treatment in Dubai available? Yes, it is!

What are the types of therapy for anxiety and what to expect during treatment?

There are many different types of treatments for anxiety. The most common treatments are the ones listed below; however, it is important to note that there are many viable options other than the following.

Dialectical behavior therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy or DBT is a highly effective type of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. While this method was originally used to treat borderline personality disorder, DBT is now used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety.

When you opt for DBT, your treatment program will focus on you learning to both accept your anxiety and actively work to adapt to it. It will teach you to accept yourself for who you are while trying to learn new coping skills and resilience strategies.

Psychoanalytic Therapy

Psychoanalytic Therapy is a Freudian model which suggests that symptoms of anxiety are the reflection of the client’s unconscious conflicts. The goal of this therapy for anxiety disorder is to resolve these conflicts.

It is considered one of the most intense treatment methods. You and your therapist will work on examining your thoughts, fears, and desires to better understand how you view yourself. This particular anxiety treatment takes a bit longer than other therapies, yet has been shown to have lasting effects, as it involves identifying patterns, thought processes and what you need to do to overcome your anxiety.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT is a treatment where your psychologist will work with you to teach you various ways how to identify and manage the factors that trigger or contribute to your anxiety.

You will learn the basics of identifying the thoughts that trigger your anxiety. During this treatment, you will learn how to replace negative thoughts with more realistic ones. Additionally, you will learn different methods to reduce disruptive behaviors associated with anxiety. During your therapy, your psychologist will work with you and encourage you in anxiety-provoking activities. The goal of this part of the treatment is to help you learn that your feared or expected negative outcomes are unlikely to happen and if they do, you will have the necessary tools to work through them.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of anxiety, especially when you’re surrounded by people, you may need to talk to your therapist about what psychotherapy treatment is more appropriate for your current condition. Human Relations Institute and Clinics are a psychology-based practice based in Dubai, UAE, providing mental health and psychological services to individuals and businesses in the Middle East and abroad

Psychotherapy treatments to address anxiety and depression

Medication is not enough as a treatment to address anxiety and depression, and although psychotherapy has shown to be effective on its own, studies have proven that clients suffering from severe and complex depression or anxiety that receive a combination of medication and psychotherapy have higher rates of improvement.

Whether it’s your first time seeking mental health counseling services, or you know someone who is suffering from anxiety and depression, it is important to understand that psychotherapy treatments do not always have the same effect on people. There are different kinds of treatment available for various conditions and the person who will undergo treatment must cooperate or work with the specialist.

Here are some common treatments for anxiety and depression:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of therapy style that focuses on helping individuals learn to be their own therapists. CBT aims to bring to the clients’ awareness of their negative styles of thinking and unhelpful behavior patterns associated with depression and anxiety, and eventually replace them with more helpful thought patterns and behaviors. Getting such anxiety treatment in Dubai helps to limit the client’s distorted thinking by looking at their problems or issues more objectively.

Interpersonal therapy

Interpersonal therapy or IPT is a short-term treatment that usually involves 12 to 16 one-hour weekly sessions. The therapy focuses on your social roles and relationships. The therapist will work with you to identify interpersonal issues you may have, including conflicts with family or friends, change in social roles, stress from work, unresolved grief, and other issues involving other people in your life. During or after the therapy, you will also learn about healthy ways to express your feelings and improve your communication with others.

Psychodynamic therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the psychological roots of the client’s emotional suffering. It involves self-reflection and self-examination, and the use of the relationship between therapist and patient as a window into problematic relationship patterns in the client’s life.

There are other kinds of treatment that your therapist can recommend to you depending on the severity of your condition. No matter which therapy is chosen, keep in mind that your willingness to get better is also a key factor in your recovery.

Take breaks when everything gets overwhelming and ask your therapist if there are ways on how you can better prepare your mind for the treatment.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of depression and anxiety, especially when you’re surrounded by a lot of people, you may need to talk to your therapist about which treatment is more appropriate for your condition. Human Relations Institute and Clinics are a psychology-based practice based in Dubai, UAE, providing mental health and psychological services to individuals and businesses in the Middle East and abroad.

Managing and Treating Anxiety among Adults

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions experienced by adults nowadays. It affects one’s physical, emotional, and mental health in various ways.

Unlike other types of mental condition which usually manifests later in life, both children and adults may develop anxiety due to stress, as well as other environmental and genetic factors. As soon as you detect signs of anxiety or higher levels of stress, it is highly recommended that you seek help from a mental health counselor to determine what triggers your anxiety and recommend a treatment program that is appropriate to your current condition.

Can anxiety be treated without medication?

Many institutions offer mental health counseling services to help patients recover without relying on medication. Medication is used with severe levels of anxiety.

Depending on the patient’s existing health conditions, doctors may recommend the following as part of one’s treatment plan:

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is one of the most effective interventions for anxiety. It gives a person the chance to discuss what triggers their anxiety, explore coping mechanisms, and work through some experiences that may contribute to their anxiety. Some psychotherapy clinics prefer cognitive behavioral therapy among other types of psychotherapy because it focuses on helping a person understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, however other therapies are equally helpful. Using these methods also helps them to find ways on how to disrupt their negative thoughts and avoid anxious thinking patterns.

Change diet and nutrition

Making changes in one’s diet or intake of certain food items may also become a part of a client’s therapy for anxiety. Reducing caffeine and alcohol intake is highly recommended as these drinks can often make the person restless. Keeping a log of one’s food consumption can help determine if certain foods trigger or worsen their anxiety.

Support groups

Anxiety can make a person feel isolated even with the company of others. Hence, it is beneficial to have a support group that can help the client cope and feels less alone. A great support group will provide practical wisdom that can help a person find the right provider, talk to their loved ones about their anxiety, or manage the process of seeking workplace accommodations.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of anxiety, especially when you’re surrounded by a lot of people, you may need to talk to your therapist about what social anxiety treatment is appropriate for your condition. Human Relations Institute and Clinics is a psychology-based practice based in Dubai, UAE, providing mental health and psychological services to individuals and businesses around the globe.