Simply put, anxiety is unrelenting and exaggerated worry about something. That something can be many things; anywhere from anxiety about a future event, to a phobia of spiders. Anxiety treatment allows us to address this range of concerns.

Anxiety can make us ruminate for hours about things that we perceive to be threats but are not threats to our well-being or survival. For example, if someone had anxiety related to health, they may incessantly worry and meditate on it, search the web for hours, fly into panicked states, or have sleepless nights filled with racing thoughts all despite making a doctor’s appointment.

In anxiety, the sheer size of the worry about the concern, the realistic vs. non-realistic nature of the problem, and the frequency or level of control related to the concerned matter.

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At its core, the Shift Program pivots on the understanding that our behaviours, emotions, and reactions are largely driven by our belief systems.

These beliefs, ingrained in us since childhood, can often limit us from achieving our full potential. These are referred to as Limiting Beliefs. They operate as mental barriers, often subconsciously, that prevent us from fully engaging in life and realizing our full potential. Examples of Limiting Beliefs may include thoughts such as, “I’m not good enough,” “I can’t handle this,” or “I will never succeed.”

The cornerstone of the Shift Program is the process of reconditioning these Limiting Beliefs.

By challenging these beliefs, individuals can cultivate a more adaptable mindset and reduce anxiety. This is particularly helpful for those dealing with panic attacks, obsessions, or specific fears. To tackle excessive worry or phobias, the strategy focuses on reconditioning responses in the primitive part of our brain, often referred to as the “walnut brain,” which is akin to our animal instincts. This method uses psychological techniques inspired by classical conditioning, like those Pavlov used with dogs, but adapted to help people overcome negative emotional reactions linked to specific experiences or stimuli.

Exposure in this context refers to the process of gradually and repeatedly exposing an individual to their fears or anxiety triggers, in a controlled environment.

The purpose of this controlled exposure is to elicit the emotional, cognitive, and physiological responses that underpin their anxiety. This exposure process is designed to promote habituation, the decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated presentations. Over time, the individual becomes less sensitized to their anxiety triggers.

Integration, on the other hand, involves the cognitive restructuring of the individual’s thought patterns.

It aids the individual in adopting healthier, more adaptive belief systems, hence the term “reconditioning.” By confronting and understanding their fears in a supportive setting, individuals learn to perceive and interpret their anxiety triggers differently. They replace their Limiting Beliefs with empowering ones that promote resilience and emotional well-being.

The Shift Program, through its use of reconditioning, can be remarkably effective in addressing various forms of anxiety, from generalized anxiety disorder to social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and specific phobias. The treatment’s exposure component is particularly suited to anxiety disorders, given that avoidance of feared stimuli often exacerbates anxiety symptoms.

For example, an individual with social anxiety may have the limiting belief that they are always being judged negatively by others. The Shift Program would expose this individual to social situations in a safe and controlled manner, thereby allowing them to experience and eventually adapt to the feared stimulus. Simultaneously, the individual would learn through cognitive restructuring to replace their limiting belief with a more adaptive one, such as “I am capable of handling social situations.”

Moreover, the Shift Program’s flexibility allows it to be tailored to the individual’s unique needs and circumstances. This personalized approach ensures the therapy’s effectiveness across a wide spectrum of anxiety manifestations.

In essence, the Shift Program is more than just a therapeutic tool; it is a transformative journey that invites individuals to confront their fears, dismantle their limiting beliefs, and ultimately reclaim their lives from anxiety. By challenging the very beliefs that fuel anxiety, it offers a promising avenue towards emotional freedom and psychological resilience.

It’s important to remember that while the Shift Program has the potential to be incredibly effective, like all therapeutic methods, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. What works well for one person might not work as well for another, and it’s essential to have these interventions guided by trained and licensed professionals.

Specific Phobias:

A fear of one object or situation, like spiders or flying.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder:

Characterized by exaggerated or excessive anxiety and worry about life events that don’t necessarily require that type of emotional attention. There are many themes in this area, including:

Health
Personal safety
Body image
Agoraphobia
Flying
Parenting
Relationship concerns
And many more

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD):

OCD Relates to obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. These items interrupt an individual’s quality of life and are not viewed by the individual as being entirely under their control. There are several types, including hoarding, checking, health (germ) focused, etc. Note that this is distinct from Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder.

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia):

An intrusive, disruptive fear of people or certain social situations. Often, we see fears of judgment, body image, and looking awkward or stupid, as being thematic in social anxiety thoughts. Often, individuals will isolate themselves or avoid certain situations to reduce worry, panic and stress, and anxiety. However, in doing so, they become lonely, desolate, and limited in their new experiences. This can lead to further mood disruption.

If you are curious about whether you meet some of the criteria for social anxiety, then here are a few web self-assessments that you can take. Remember, these tests are by no means a diagnosis but only to give you more information about yourself and how it relates to social anxiety.

Panic Disorders:

Panic disorders are often concurrent with physical symptoms like muscle tension, heart palpitations, and sweating. They can be proceeded by constant worrying and often cause such side effects. There are many natural remedies nearby and relaxation techniques but often these do not get to the root of the panic disorder.

Shifts Approach to Anxiety Treatment Near You

Anxiety can affect all aspects of your life, including your emotions, behavior, and thinking ability not to mention the residual effects on physical health. No part of the body is immune, but, because people handle anxiety differently, anxiety treatment nearby may be necessary. Many symptoms might not initially seem like they are connected to your anxiety until we take a closer look at the life analysis portion of anxiety treatment.

Our unique protocol will get to the root of your anxiety concerns, which present themselves in the form of what we call limiting beliefs. These are negative beliefs about ourselves and the world around us that impact our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. We use reprocessing to remove these beliefs, resulting in an absence of response and relief from the anxiety.