What is the theory behind this anxiety ladder worksheet?
The physical, mental, and emotional sensations of anxiety are quite real, even if it cannot physically damage you. Techniques like CBT and exposure therapy are used to treat anxiety. According to research, CBT helps to reduce anxiety symptoms. The anxiety ladder is a technique that makes clients aware of the intensity of their anxieties that is beneficial in managing anxiety.
How will the worksheet help?
The worksheet is beneficial for clients to get in-depth understanding of their anxiety. It helps clients in identifying triggers of their anxiety and to evaluate how much these triggers are affecting their life.
How to use the worksheet?
Therapists can use the anxiety ladder worksheet in sessions or give it to their clients to practise at home after explaining the therapeutic importance behind it.
Anxiety Ladder worksheet
List down the triggers (person, thought, event, emotion or any situation) of anxiety and rate them on the scale of 0-10.
| Anxiety Triggers | Rating (0-10) |
Now when you have identified your anxiety triggers and their severity. Let’s arrange them on the anxiety ladder. Start from the most distressful situation to least distressing situation.
References
How to ease anxiety | The anxiety ladder | iHASCO. (n.d.). Online Training Courses | The eLearning Experts | iHASCO. https://www.ihasco.co.uk/blog/entry/1907/easing-anxiety-the-anxiety-ladder
Anxiety: The stepladder approach. (2021, August 24). Raising Children Network. https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/health-daily-care/mental-health/anxiety-stepladder-approach
You can download this worksheet here.