Therapist's Guide to Clinical Intervention - Sigmund Freud

Now that you know that beliefs affect emotion and behavior you will want to pay more
attention to your own beliefs.
1. Do you feel an intense need for approval from others? People pleasing behavior
means that you put the needs of others before your own needs. This leads to
frustration and, over time, resentment. Frustration and resentment are intense
feelings that can contribute to chronic anxiety and tension.
2. Do you have an intense need for control? Do you worry about how you
appear, do you feel uncomfortable in letting other people be in charge of a
situation? Do you believe that if you are not in control, that you are weak
and a failure?
3. Do you tend to be perfectionistic and self-critical? Do you often feel that what
you do is never enough or not good enough? Do you often criticize your own
efforts and feel a constant pressure to achieve?
These patterns of beliefs and behavior are irrational. If this is your approach to life expect
to experience chronic stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Who could feel calm and relaxed
with this approach to life. Chances are that if you engage in any of these behaviors
and beliefs that you also have a tendency to discount what you are experiencing physically.
The mind and body function as one. When there is emotional distress you know it.
Generally, there are physical symptoms as well, especially with chronic stress. Often when
people ignore all of the ways that their body tries to tell them to slow down and take care
of themselves the result is an escalation in symptoms. When this happens it is called a panic
attack. Symptoms of panic attacks include:
1. anxiety
2. palpitations, accelerated heart rate, or pounding heart
3. chest pain or discomfort
4. shaking or trembling
5. muscle tension
6. shortness of breath
7. nausea or abdominal distress
8. feeling dizzy or lightheaded
9. numbness or tingling
10. feelings of unreality
11. feelings of being detached from oneself
12. fear of losing control or going crazy
13. chills or hot flashes
14. feeling of impending doom/fear of dying
If you have not had a panic attack, you can recognize by looking at the symptoms that
it is a terrifying experience. Yet, the person who has experienced a panic attack has likely
been building up to it for a long time, ignoring their own high level of chronic emotional,
psychological, and physical distress.
348 3. Skill-Building Resources for Increasing Social Competency