Cardiovascular Therapy

Human life exhibits a range of possibilities. Within these possibilities comes the potential for experiencing varying levels of anxiety feelings including 'attacks' and panics.

Anxiety is a normal response to a future event; but it can become a seriously debilitating response when the symptoms extend for more than two weeks. In many case, anxiety is compounded by depression producing a toxic state of mind.
An Illustrative Case
An intelligent, well-educated, professional man came to my counselling practice suffering from depression which had been preceded by

what he described as 'surges' of anxiety he was experiencing facing new situations and in new places. He was even losing confidence to converse with salespeople who badgered him from time to time on the phone.

What I attempted to do to help him can also be done by any person on his own.

1. When Did The Mood Begin?

This above question is not always an easy one to answer because often the person had not wanted to face some unpleasant event that occurred in his life at that time; so, he suppressed his actual feeling-reactions and tried to think, act and even feel the way he believed he ought to be thinking, acting and feeling.

One thing we all know is that while we can consciously think and act the way we believe we ought to, we cannot make ourselves feel something when we are simultaneously suppressing our entire feeling state.

With my client, we were able to determine approximately when the discordant mood began.

2. What Was Happening When The Mood Started?

If the time can be narrowed down as much as possible, then the next task following is to find the 'triggering event' (TE), the action, circumstance, episode, experience, or situation to which the person reacted.

Moods seem to come out of nowhere. But that is only an appearance. Moods (i.e., complex affective states) are reactions to particular incidents that have significance for one person as opposed to others.

Together, the client and I, searched around for likely TE candidates. Although he mentioned a number none of them 'clicked' emotionally with him.

Then he talked about a trip he was being sent on by his company. He hadn't wanted to go, had always had anxiety with overseas travel but, felt he should go because he was able to take his wife. He knew she would love the prospect of such a trip and he wanted to please her.

This event sounded promising! For as he talked about this matter, he reported that his mood started to lift.

3. The Usefulness Of This Procedure

I hesitate to pronounce this procedure as useful for all anxieties and depression but it seems useful in cases of avoidance and denial of unpleasant feelings.

Conclusion

Next time, I intend to write about why I think this method of 'uncovering' may dissolve stuck moods at least in some cases.