For many years, countless anxiety sufferers have spent thousands on traditional therapy sessions that never solved their problem. While traditional therapy has left something to be desired, one session exposure treatment (OST) is showing great promise in treating even the most severe panic and anxiety.
The simple but effective components to OST may be what you need to take back control over your fear.
Why One Session Only?
This is a really simple answer. The more you focus on your severe anxiety disorder the more you empower it. Repetitive therapy sessions that involve talking about your anxiety will keep the problem at the forefront of your mind.
Even when you are not in sessions, you will always be thinking about it and not be able to dismiss it.
On the other hand, when one session is done correctly it can be really effective at overcoming severe anxiety attack issues. OST typically takes longer than your normal therapy session. Some may last most of the day.
It is a deep, vigorous, and completely engaged experience for everyone involved. The goal is to intensely study the source of your anxiety and give you tools to handle that anxiety.
Exposure to Source of Anxiety
The exposure element to OST is often what worries most. It occurs in a very safe and controlled environment, where no harm can happen and where there is nothing to make you feel embarrassed.
If the OST is for a child’s severe anxiety symptoms, then the parent may or may not be there based on mutual consensus between the therapist and the sufferer.
Once the area is safe, exposure to the event, situation, or specific trigger that causes the anxiety begins. The exposure is very controlled so the therapist can observe the patient’s reaction.
Exposure will probably happen more than once, but each time the sufferer will be guided through the situation and given the tools to come out on top.
Cognitive Tools
None of the exposure would be effective if you are not given the tools you need to combat and conquer your severe anxiety attacks. Cognitive therapy is a newer concept, but has shown to be quite effective. It is based on the idea that your thoughts have the most control over how you feel.
Your therapist will teach you certain thought exercises, from esteem reinforcement exercises to meditation, all designed to help you master your thoughts when you most need to.
This is especially effective against specific situation caused anxiety. When anxiety is consistently caused by certain circumstances, a therapist is best able to give the specific techniques that will best apply to that moment. In OST, you will be exposed to the situation and have an opportunity to practice these techniques in a safe environment until you are in control.
At the end of the OST, your therapist will probably send you home with additional cognitive “homework” to reinforce what you learned to keep you in control as you face the real world.
After OST
OST is most effective at treating specific, situational anxiety. However, chances are if you suffer from anxiety attacks you also suffer from heightened anxiety most of the time. To be truly free of severe panic attacks, you must cure yourself of your anxiety problems.
The Panic Puzzle Program is designed to give you ultimate control over your anxiety. It will teach you how to move with your fear until you come out on top. In addition to psychological exercises, you will learn to make diet, lifestyle, and health changes that will also reduce your anxiety. Overall, The Panic Puzzle Program will empower you to be stronger than your anxiety.
