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Process - Physician - Fraser Health Authority

Process - Physician - Fraser Health Authority

Process - Physician - Fraser Health Authority

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How Anxiety WorksTHOUGHTSBODYFEELINGSBEHAVIOURSManaging anxiety is easier if you understand how thoughts, feelings, behaviours and bodysensations are linked together and affect each other.In the following example, the same situation seems to produce very different reactions.The way you think about or interpret the situation will influence how you feel and behave.ANXIETY REACTIONSituation: Husband is late coming home.Thoughts: Maybe he’s had an accident.I know something terrible has happened.I can’t stand it if he’s hurt; how will wemanage without his salary?Feelings: Worried, anxiousBody: Heart racing, sweating, light headedBehaviours: Phones hospitals, frets andpaces, yells at kids, forgets to make dinner.HELPFUL REACTIONSituation: Husband is late coming home.Thoughts: Maybe he’s working a bit late.I’ll give him an hour and then call the office;I’m not going to panic until I know for suresomething bad has happened.Feelings: Mild concernBody: Butterflies in stomachBehaviour: Distracts herself by getting onwith usual tasks.Neither woman knows the truth of what has happened. If nothing has happened, the firstwoman is likely to be cranky and angry when her husband finally gets home. The secondwoman will want an explanation but will probably be quite calm.If something bad has happened, the first women will be overwhelmed as she is alreadypanicky, the second woman will handle it better because she is not as panicked from thestart.In this example different thoughts produced different feelings and behaviors.Patient Empowerment Anxiety Manual VIHA.March.2010 92

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