Other difficulties
There are several other ways in which thoughts (in the form of beliefs, rules and expectations), feelings and behaviour (what we do or what we avoid) can lead us into problems. Also, difficult past experiences can lead to current difficulties, already consolidated after being reinforced for a long time. And more recent experiences can prove challenging, keeping us stuck and unsure as to how to move.
The therapeutic models I use offer principles and techniques that can be very effective to help you minimise the impact of these difficulties in your life.
Below you’ll see some of the difficulties I have helped other people with.
ADDICTIVE AND COMPULSIVE BEHAVIOURS
The recurrent urge to perform an activity (e.g., shopping, gambling) or consume a substance (e.g., alcohol, drugs, food). This is to a point where serious financial, health or relational problems occur. People feel a sense of lack of control over their behavior, which is performed impulsively, becoming a destructive habit. EMDR and ACT can help greatly with these types of difficulties.
EMDR can target
- the triggers (both internal and external),
- the urge to avoid feelings or sensations that lead to the addictive behaviour/substance,
- the positive feelings that maintain its use/performance, and
- the traumatic experiences that tend to underpin the addictive/compulsive behaviour.
ANGER
Feeling angry in response to unjust treatment is a normal reaction. However, anger and irritability can also become a defining feature in some people, causing challenges in daily life, destroying relationships and, when reaching the point of physical violence, can cause problems with the law. Often this ‘undue anger’ is linked to earlier (and repeated) experiences of abuse, injustice and mistreatment that have not been processed and continue to dictate how we respond to current situations. Both EMDR and CBT can help ‘iron’ creases leading to current difficulties and experiment with new rules for life.
INSOMNIA
Often insomnia happens in the context of anxiety/mood problems and improves when working on these. However, in some occasions, it develops as a problem of its own, requiring specific treatment. CBT for insomnia (CBT-I) can be an effective treatment for chronic insomnia, addressing thoughts, behaviors and conditioned responses keeping the problem going.
LONG TERM HEALTH CONDITIONS
Long term physical symptoms, such as diabetes, respiratory or cardiac problems, or other such as digestive problems, chronic pain or fatigue often require a great deal of changes to our lifestyle (activities, treatment). This adaptation often proves difficult and leads to poor compliance, relationship stress and unhelpful patterns of activity/avoidance. Both CBT and ACT have been found helpful when working on these difficulties.
EXPAT LIFE
Moving away from your country of origin can be a challenging experience, generating all sorts of emotional difficulties, from sadness, to anxiety and concern about those left behind. Uncertainty about a potential return, possible losses whilst away, changes in circumstances and identity can create difficult dilemmas.
GRIEF/LOSS
Loss is an inherent part of life we all have to endure at some point. Sometimes, losing someone or something (a relationship, an opportunity) proves extremely distressing as it leads to a sense of stagnation and being unable to reengage with meaningful aspects of our life prior to the loss. In these cases, having space to reflect on what has happened is necessary, as well as using techniques such as those offered by ACT or EMDR can be useful.
PERFECTIONISM
A need to be in total control, or to have things perfect or ‘just right’ can push us to accomplish our goals. However, sometimes it can be a double-edged sword which leads us to excessive stress, avoidance, clash with other areas of our lives and relational problems. Sometimes, this is linked to self-esteem problems.
CBT has proved useful when working with these difficulties
You may identify with one or several of them. But maybe your problem is not quite reflected in the list above. In any case, feel free to contact me to discuss it and see how therapy can help.
Help with other difficulties…
Depression / Mood problems
Anxiety / Stress
Trauma
Couple difficulties