Answers to CBT Client Questions
This section analyzes real, anonymous questions about anxiety treatment, depression treatment, panic attacks and phobias. Through these clinical examples, you can see how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is applied in practice to break dysfunctional vicious cycles. The answers are for informational purposes*** only and are a guide for those looking for a CBT psychologist in Athens for in-person sessions, or interested in online psychotherapy from the province and abroad.
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(***) The answers below are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for medical or psychological evaluation. Before physical symptoms are attributed to psychological causes, it is essential that organic conditions be ruled out by your physician. If you are facing an emergency, contact a healthcare professional immediately or, in Greece, call the SOS helpline at 1018.
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Depression
Good evening, I am 23 years old and for the last 2 and a half years I have been experiencing panic attacks. I had gone to a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with mild depression and agoraphobia. I was prescribed antidepressants, which after a while, feeling better, I stopped taking them on the advice of the doctor. After a while, because I discovered that I have hypertension, the fluctuations in my blood pressure caused me anxiety and fear for my health, resulting in the panic attacks returning. At the moment, I have stopped psychotherapy, but I feel that I want to deal with the attacks on my own this time without medication. What would you recommend?
It is common for depression to sit on a substrate of chronic phobias and anxieties. Empirical data shows that phobias are experiences where threatening thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and physical reactions are all interconnected.
Visit a trained Cognitive-Behavioral Psychologist to learn more and to train you in dealing with your issues. In cases like yours, cognitive behavioral therapy helps the person regain control without pharmaceutical support, either in person in Athens or through online sessions.
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Panic attack
Is diarrhea a possible symptom of a panic attack? Along with a feeling that your heart is beating fast while your pulse is at 62.. Thanks in advance
Before we attribute these physical symptoms to anxiety, it is essential to rule out organic causes with your physician — cardiological, gastrointestinal, or endocrinological (e.g., thyroid). The combination of diarrhea with a sensation of strong heartbeats, even when the pulse is low, requires medical evaluation first.
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Once organic causes have been ruled out, diarrhea may indeed be part of an anxiety response, appearing as a symptom following activation of the Sympathetic Nervous System (part of the ANS). A hypersensitivity to your bodily sensations has been triggered, causing you to pay excessive attention to them. When you perceive them, they are misinterpreted in a negative way, creating a vicious cycle of anxiety that escalates.
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The main characteristic of a panic attack is the interpretation of your bodily sensations in an absolutely catastrophic way. This catastrophic misinterpretation mechanism is the core issue that needs to be addressed. Consult a trained Cognitive Behavioral therapist for the exploration and development of a treatment plan. A structured CBT plan for anxiety and panic offers the appropriate tools to break this cycle.
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Anxiety and Stress
Good evening. 3 days ago while I was sleeping I felt like I was going to faint and suddenly my heart was beating very fast. and now I feel a terrible anxiety that won't let me sleep.
Make sure there is no organic cause. Reduce the consumption of stimulating foods and drinks (soft drinks, coffee, sweets). Explore with the help of a trained Cognitive Behavioral Psychologist problematic situations in your life that may be bothering you at the present time or many small ones that have been bothering you lately. Mapping daily stressors with the help of a specialist is essential. Online psychotherapy offers the same clinical effectiveness for resolving such issues, even for Greek expats who face stress of adjustment abroad.
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