Anxiety
- mathieuderossi2
- Jan 16
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 24
Social anxiety
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Panic disorder
Specific phobias
Understanding the logic of anxiety
Exploring underlying emotions
Therapeutic tasks for concrete change
Introduction
Anxiety is a natural emotion that affects each of us at different times in life. However, when it becomes excessive or uncontrollable, it can seriously harm our quality of life. In France, millions of people are affected by anxiety, particularly in a professional context where stress and pressure are omnipresent. Hello Palo offers a unique solution, based on Palo Alto brief therapy to support individuals in managing this complex and often overwhelming emotion.
What is Anxiety? Definitions and Symptoms
Anxiety manifests itself as a reaction of our body to a situation perceived as threatening, even if this threat is sometimes irrational or exaggerated. It is different from stress, because it persists even in the absence of immediate stressors. In some people, anxiety can reach a level so high that it becomes paralyzing, impacting both personal, social and professional life.
Symptoms of anxiety can vary, but they often include:
Excessive worry : disproportionate fear or apprehension about common situations.
Physical symptoms : increased heart rate, sweating, shaking, and sometimes even panic attacks.
Intrusive thoughts : catastrophic scenarios, excessive anticipation of future difficulties.
Avoidance : Avoiding anxiety-provoking situations, which often reinforces the anxiety cycle.
Anxiety can be caused by internal factors such as limiting beliefs or negative thought patterns, but also by external factors such as stressful events or intense pressure at work.
The different types of anxiety
Understanding the type of anxiety you're dealing with can help you manage it better. Here are some common forms of anxiety:
Social anxiety : Fear of social interactions, often accompanied by an intense fear of being judged or humiliated in public.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) : Chronic, excessive worry about everyday things, such as work, health, or finances.
Panic disorder : characterized by sudden, intense panic attacks, often for no apparent reason.
Specific phobias : Intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations, such as heights or spiders.
Each of these types of anxiety requires a specific approach, and Hello Palo offers tailored support through the use of Palo-Alto therapy.
The Palo Alto Therapy Approach to Managing Anxiety
Palo Alto Systemic Brief Therapy is a method known for its rapid effectiveness. It is distinguished by a problem-solving approach that explores the patterns of thought and behavior that perpetuate suffering. Unlike other methods, it aims to change the "solution attempts" that, although initially well-intentioned, often maintain or amplify anxiety.
1. Understand the logic of anxiety
Anxiety is often maintained by recurring patterns of control or avoidance. For example, trying to anticipate everything to avoid a stressful situation can paradoxically amplify anxious thoughts. Hello Palo helps the user identify these mechanisms that fuel their anxiety and free themselves from them.
2. Explore underlying emotions
One of the crucial steps is to encourage the person to express their emotions without judging them. The goal is to allow the "suffering" part to express itself, even if these emotions seem irrational. Hello Palo, as a virtual therapist, invites the user to reveal their fears, frustrations and deep thoughts. This helps to release the emotional charge that fuels anxiety.
3. Therapeutic tasks for concrete change
After each chat session, Hello Palo offers personalized therapeutic tasks to encourage behavior change. These tasks are designed to help adopt alternative behaviors to dysfunctional patterns. By acting differently, the user experiences new ways of coping with anxiety.
Examples of therapeutic tasks offered by Hello Palo
Hello Palo generates concrete and effective tasks to deal with anxiety. Here are some examples:
Living your emotions : When an anxious emotion arises, it is recommended not to repress it, but to live it fully. This task aims to mitigate the power of anxiety by allowing the emotion to express itself instead of accumulating.
Emotion Logbook : Users are prompted to record their thoughts and emotions throughout the day. This helps them better understand anxiety triggers and identify recurring patterns.
Observe your solution attempts : This task involves identifying and stopping ineffective behaviors that perpetuate the problem. For example, if anxiety is due to over-planning, the user is encouraged to experiment with a more flexible approach.
Gradually confront anxiety-provoking situations : Fear is often amplified by avoidance. Hello Palo helps the user to gradually expose themselves to situations they avoid, with the aim of reducing the impact of anxiety on daily life.
These simple yet powerful exercises offer concrete solutions to better understand and manage anxiety.
The Benefits of Hello Palo for Overcoming Anxiety
There are several benefits to using Hello Palo for people dealing with anxiety:
Accessibility and confidentiality : Hello Palo is available online, offering immediate and confidential support at any time. This allows users to communicate in moments of anxiety without having to wait for a traditional appointment.
Science-Based Solution : Hello Palo is based on the foundations of Palo Alto Brief Therapy, a method validated by over 50 years of research. This approach is renowned for its rapid effectiveness and for helping individuals regain a certain autonomy over their emotions.
Personalized and non-prescriptive approach : Each session and each therapeutic task is adapted to the unique situation of each user. Hello Palo adjusts to individual needs, without judgment, thus promoting caring and effective support.
Effectiveness in the professional context : Using Hello Palo in business is an asset to improve the mental well-being of employees. A better state of mind often translates into increased productivity and a more serene work environment.
Adopting a new attitude towards anxiety
Managing anxiety does not mean eliminating it, but learning to live with it in a serene manner. Thanks to Hello Palo, it is possible to transform this emotion into a useful signal rather than a source of suffering. By identifying the patterns that perpetuate anxiety and adopting new and creative solutions, everyone can find a more balanced life.
Hello Palo is a modern and innovative tool that combines the benefits of Palo-Alto therapy with the power of AI. For those looking for a solution to soothe their daily anxiety, Hello Palo represents a flexible, effective and caring option.
