Workshops on coping with anxiety

If you are looking for a way to cope with anxiety that incapacitates you, then the workshops run at Comprehensive Medical Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road, beginning from Saturday, could offer a way out.

The workshops will run every Saturday, beginning from Saturday at 6.00-7.30pm and will run for six Saturday evenings, exclusive of the Eid holidays.

Angela Ross, facilitator at the Comprehensive Medical Centre, says, "Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychological conditions.

Approximately three out of every 10 people will experience difficulties with anxiety at some point in their lifetime. Anxiety is a normal human emotion.

"It can be beneficial to us in many situations, helping us perform in stressful situations, such as public speaking or writing exams. It also helps us avoid dangerous situations.

A moderate level of anxiety actually increases brain activity. However, high levels of anxiety render the exact opposite effect, creating difficulties in concentration and the ability to perform," she says.

"Since anxiety is normal, the disorders are characterised by high levels of anxiety, especially within the absence of an anxiety producing event, threat, or crisis.

There is generally no one cause of an anxiety disorder. There are causal factors, such as heredity, biological factors, lifestyle, recent stressors, belief systems, negative self talk, conditioning (learned responses) and the inability to express feelings.

A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder characterised by an intense fear and avoidance of something, for example, air travel, small spaces, social situations," explains Ross.

Ross elucidates on the forms of treatment, "The most common treatments for anxiety disorders include cognitive behavioural therapy, medication, relaxation training as well as stress management.

The anxiety and phobia workshop will address the different anxiety disorders, signs and symptoms, causes, treatment, self-help methods, lifestyle inventory, relaxation training, and stress management," she says.

A 'depression workshop' will commence at the centre from February 20 and will run for six Wednesday's excluding Eid and Easter, from 6.00-7.30pm.