What Can Be Done If Fear and Anxiety Get Out of Control?

Everybody has experienced feelings of fear and anxiety. They arise if you are confronted with a perceived threat or if you enter a context in which a potential threat might occur. In face of these threats, the brain prepares the body to activate a dynamic pattern of defensive actions. These patterns are orchestrated by specialized neuronal networks in the brain.

Fear and anxiety can turn into illness – a mental disorder caused by experiencing constant feelings of anxiety. When it happens, people no longer do things that they previously enjoyed or they avoid activities that they need to do. Often anxiety leads to a viscious circle of fearing the fear itself.

What can be done when anxiety becomes overwhelming and impacts one's life? As Goethe, who suffered from acrophobia - a severe fear of heights, said the best soultion, is the systematic exposure to the factor that is the source of fear. Nevertheless, it is not so easy. People try to avoid fearful situations rather than experience the most intensive fear. They choose flight instead of fight. An escape can provide a short relief, but the anxious condition may worsen, because the primitive old part of the brain learns that escape is an appropriate action.

In anxiety disorders the problem is that one almost never feels really safe. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be helpful. Individuals can learn what to do when they feel the onset of a panic attack. Behavioral therapy seems to be very effective in many cases.

During his lecture, Professor Hamm will present research results on the effectiveness of cognitive therapy. He will also talk about learnings from numerous therapy sessions that may lead to better outcomes for patients suffering from anxiety disorders.