Posted by The Therapist on 16/7/2011, 9:16 pm, in reply to "Re: its almost gone"

No I didn't use hypnoanalysis as it wouldn't really be the appropriate tool. I just tried a direct suggestions of relaxation but they didn't work. This was before I studied CBT. When I studied CBT I got a much better understanding of how it was my irrational beliefs (e.g. that everyone is really interested on whether I can go or not.) that needed addressing. I did some behavioural experiments (the core of CBT) and it helped a lot because it showed that my beliefs were irrational. (The primitive parts of the brain involved in anxiety disorders cannot learn new beliefs from a book or a teacher, it only learns from ones own experience.)The experiment I used was to go into a loo when I didnt want to go and try and stay there as long as I could and observe if anyone was looking at me strangely.It was hard at first but in the end I managed to outlast 3 people. Nobody even glanced at me.My irrational belief was much weakened after this and things improved from there onwards. In another experiment I also tested my belief that people will think Im weak or weird if they find out that I am pauretic. I have now told about 20 people and had no negative reactions even from people I know are piss takers (excuse the pun).I can go about 95% of the time now and the odd time I cant I just wait it out until I can and it doesnt bother me. If I feel a rush of anxiety I just let it pass. I know that running out would set me back.

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