There has been a lot of misinformation spread about anxiety disorder over the years. In fact, some groups spent a lot of time, money, and energy to spread misinformation about anxiety disorder for their own benefit.
Due to the proliferation of this misinformation, many people have strongly held beliefs about anxiety disorder, its cause, and treatment. Unfortunately, much of this information is often incorrect.
Research has found that once a belief has been internalized as ‘true’ – even if it actually isn’t true – it’s hard to change even if there is an abundance of evidence to the contrary. While this research may be surprising, it actually echoes how humans behave and why long-held beliefs are difficult to change.
Therapists run up against this barrier all the time, and is one of the reasons making healthy change takes much longer than most people think – because people have difficulty changing their belief systems in spite of the abundance of evidence that proves a long-held belief is untrue.
Believing misinformation about anxiety disorder and recovery - rather than what has been proven true - is another common barrier to lasting recovery. For example, for years pharmaceutical companies propagated the ‘chemical imbalance’ myth about anxiety disorder, which was dispelled in 2011. Click the link more information about the demise of the ‘chemical imbalance’ theory.
Sadly, even many years later, many people (including many medical and mental health professionals) still believe anxiety disorder is caused by a ‘chemical imbalance’ in the brain…when in fact, it never was.
Moreover, in spite of the abundance of information about genetics, some people (including many medical and mental health professionals) still believe anxiety disorder is caused by a genetic predisposition…when it isn’t. Click the link more information about the false belief that genes cause issues with anxiety.
And, in spite of the abundance of information about how the brain functions, some people (including many medical and mental health professionals) still believe anxiety disorder is caused by a biological problem with the brain…when no such biological problem exists or ever did. Click the link more information about the false belief that a biological problem with the brain causes issues with anxiety.
Believing anxiety is caused by something other than its actual cause means a person can spend a lot of time, money, and energy trying to solve a cause that doesn’t exit. And of course, if you don’t solve the real cause, the problem will remain.
This is why many people have spent years on psychotropic medications yet their problematic anxiety remains. Sure, some people (approximately one third of those who take psychotropic medications) may have seen a reduction in symptoms, but anxiety symptoms are just the symptoms of the problem and not the real problem itself. Until the real cause of problematic anxiety has been appropriately addressed, problematic anxiety and its symptoms generally remain since anxiety disorder seldom resolves on its own.
There are many natural ways to reduce anxiety symptoms. A reduction in symptoms, however, doesn’t necessarily mean the cause of problematic anxiety has been addressed.
As we state in our materials, anxiety is a physiological, psychological, and emotional state that occurs when a person behaves apprehensively. So, anxiety is a result of a certain style of behavior and not caused any other problem. Dealing with the true cause of anxiety unwellness – unhealthy behavior – solves anxiety unwellness…and for good. When you deal with the true cause of anxiety disorder, you eliminate the problem and its symptoms by default.
All of us have the ability to overcome anxiety unwellness with the right information, help, effort, and support. No one needs to be a victim of anxiety, especially since anxiety is something we create rather than something we are victims of.
If you desire to overcome issues with anxiety, you may need to challenge your perception of it so that you, too, can be empowered to make meaningful and lasting change.
Anxiety occurs when we worry that something bad or harmful may happen. If you believe anxiety is caused by something outside of your control - such as a chemical imbalance, biological problem with the brain, or genes - that you can never ‘correct’ or resolve, the implications of that realization could leave you struggling with anxiety disorder indefinitely. But if you believe anxiety is a behavior you can work at changing, that realization alone can make things better and empower you to overcome anxiety disorder for good.
All of us at anxietycentre.com have experienced problematic anxiety and know how out of control it can seem. But we also know that there are many ways we can gain control over it. Getting the right information, help, and support is all that is required to overcome anxiety unwellness for good. No one needs to suffer needlessly!
In order to move in the direction of lasting recovery, one must have the correct information and help. Otherwise, one can flounder…and even for years as anxiety disorder seldom resolves on its own. Until the unhealthy behaviors are deliberately changed, they will continue to cause problems.
Again, addressing the true cause of anxiety disorder will eliminate it and its symptoms for good. It’s unrealistic to think that any other approach will provide true and lasting relief.
Addressing the true cause of anxiety disorder is the only way to eliminate it and its symptoms for good. When you address the true cause of anxiety disorder, the problem and its symptoms disappear!
anxietycentre.com: Information, support, and coaching/counseling/therapy for problematic anxiety and its sensations and symptoms, including information about believing misinformation about anxiety disorder.