Cycle of Anxiety Worksheet
By
HappierTherapy
Author bio
The Happier Therapy editorial team is made up of Masters and PhD counselling psychologists. Each worksheet is created by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter. The worksheet then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.
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Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes (e.g., blood pressure).
The cycle of anxiety occurs when an event or situation happens and a person feels a lack of control or fear and therefore avoids coping in order to escape the intense emotions.
The cycle of anxiety includes four stages:
- Feeling anxious and wanting to deal with it
- Attempting to avoid the situation
- Feeling a temporary sense of relief
- Returning to a state of heightened anxiety
What Are The Theories Behind This Worksheet?
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a type of psychotherapy used to help individuals improve distorted thoughts and behavioral patterns associated with mental health conditions such as anxiety.
CBT helps individuals identify negative thought patterns, learn how to regulate responses to anxiety-producing situations, and develop healthy coping strategies.
- Art Therapy
Research shows that art therapy has a positive effect on individuals with mental health conditions including anxiety.
Art therapy combines psychological therapy with art-making (e.g., painting, drawing) to help people manage stress and express themselves without verbal communication.
How Will This Worksheet Help You?
This worksheet is intended to help individuals understand how the cycle of anxiety works and help them navigate the symptoms.
How Should You Use This Worksheet?
This worksheet should be used by individuals who experience patterns of overthinking, distorted thoughts, obsessions, or self-doubt.
This worksheet can also be used as a self-evaluation kit to learn, control and break the cycle of anxiety.
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References
1.-
Psych Central. (© 2005 – 2022). All About the Cycle of Anxiety: What it is and How to Cope. Available at: https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/cycle-of-anxiety#next-steps. [Accessed December 01, 2022]
