Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

October 2, 2021 Dave McCartney

Screenshot 2021-10-02 at 11.44.32.jpg — Professor Eni Becker

I attended a fascinating workshop with Prof Eni Becker on 8th September 2021 while attending the Annual Congress of the European Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies in Belfast. It was good to learn about new developments for working with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

Prof Becker investigates the development and treatment of anxiety disorders as well as affective disorders. She mainly focuses on cognitive processes (memory, attention, interpretation), considering these appear to play an important role in the development of anxiety disorders. She is the chair of Clinical Psychology at Radboud University in Nijmegen.

CBT for panic attacks, generalised anxiety and health anxiety - A testimonial

December 21, 2020 Sarah McCartney

2006-01 WALES-042.jpeg — I cannot tell you how relieved and grateful to Sarah I am to be free of the panic attacks.

I have suffered with generalised anxiety disorder and health anxiety for most of my life. I came to Sarah for help as things got progressively worse and I was experiencing intense anxiety. I would wake up numerous times throughout the night with my body contracting and feeling incredibly panicky. My guess is that these were panic attacks. I was up night after night experiencing these attacks over and over again and would sit there on the sofa feeling very frightened and wondering what was happening to me, not having a clue how to stop or handle these sensations and feelings. It was a very frightening and distressing experience.

Sarah taught me how to manage my panic symptoms and very quickly the panic attacks soon stopped. I cannot tell you how relieved and grateful to Sarah I am to be free of the panic attacks. I gradually started to sleep better too.

After that, we concentrated on helping me with my generalised anxiety and health anxiety. I can certainly say that CBT and working with Sarah has helped me enormously. I no longer have generalised anxiety disorder and health anxiety. Having suffered for so long with a variety of anxiety symptoms, it is wonderful to be able to manage my anxiety really well. Sarah is always professional, trustworthy and an easy person to talk to. Thank you, Sarah, for your expertise.

(Female, aged 51, virtual sessions, Nov 2020)

Testimonial - CBT for panic attacks and long term generalised anxiety

January 23, 2020 Sarah McCartney

Since my early twenties I had experienced periods of heightened anxiety and panic attacks. The first panic attack was absolutely terrifying. I did the old head in the sand technique. From time to time I would read a self-help book or watch a self-help DVD. I found that it was one thing reading something but it was another thing putting it into practice.

From someone who was a doubter I am living proof that CBT can help someone. I no longer have panic attacks and I manage my anxiety very well. I have a different outlook on life, because I no longer worry about when am I going to be anxious again.