Vicious Cycle Essay Examples

The Vicious Cycle
I have compiled the following notes for you, in order to explain the human stress response.
Helpful reminder:
AFFECT = Feelings, emotions, mood, physiological sensations (e.g. Heart rate, Breathing, Nausea…)
BEHAVIOUR = Actions, what are you saying or doing, or are you avoiding something - Avoidance, Escape, Excuse COGNITION = Thoughts, ideas, beliefs, judgements, attitudes, self-statements etc. Anticipation
In anticipation or preparation, one attempts to prepare to encounter the stressful or anxiety-provoking situation(s). For instance: an individual who experiences socially anxiety may worry for hours or even days about a speech or presentation. In experiencing anxiety, there is a noticeable tendency to worry, trying to mentally prepare or dwell upon the situation, tending to focus on the worst-case scenario. Alternatively, one may attempt to suppress their thoughts and try to stop thinking about it. This anticipatory anxiety inevitably tends to mount as the event draws closer (in time or location). Another common tendency is the attempt to postpone, get out of, or avoid doing things that may provoke an anxiety response. This then, temporarily prevent the cycle from proceeding to the next stage (confronting the triggers). However, eventually one reaches a point and finds that they cannot avoid or escape the
Additionally, thoughts, memories or images can appear to come “out of the blue.” Frequently there are specific memories, images, or bodily sensations that seem to be the starting point, or trigger(s). They are initial events perceived as threatening. The focusing of attention on internal events, perceiving physiological sensations, thoughts and images as threatening results in an unhelpful, biased appraisal (evaluation or interpretation) of the situation.