Thisprogram is for people who experience difficulties with anxiety (including generalised anxiety disorder, social phobia and panic disorder).The anxiety program focuses on issues identified by research to be important in triggering and maintaining anxiety. These include:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) are important elements of the program. CBT focuses on helping participants to respond positively to their negative thoughts and to be able to live the kind of life they would like, without being held back by anxiety. ACT focuses on helping participants learn strategies to accept and tolerate anxiety while working towards living a rich and meaningful life. Emphasis is placed on the provision of a warm, supportive environment that values the lived experience of group participants.
To work with this, it can help to have your client access that locked-in energy, one small amount at a time. The key here is to titrate therapy and move at a slow, gentle pace. This can be key to help keep a client from becoming overwhelmed in that moment.
If a client is experiencing anxiety from hyperarousal, we created a tool based on the work of Shelly Harrell, PhD for practitioners to share with their clients. It breaks down four key strategies to manage anxiety and reduce residual stress.
It can also be effective in helping clients reduce any shame they might feel from being easily dysregulated. This will open up their ability to explore and listen to their experiences without shame disrupting the healing process. Compassion-focused strategies can be effective in promoting self-compassion and self-acceptance when working to build resilience.
If you would like to find out how the top experts in the field (like Peter Levine, PhD; Janina Fisher, PhD; Ron Siegel, PsyD, Shelly Harrell, PhD; and more) help clients build a greater tolerance for emotional distress, you can click here.
within the last 2 days a manager shared he had discussed the window of tolerance and would like to know more to helps his autistic employee and a client who is a trainee GP shared they had heard of the window of tolerance and wanted to know how they could get to it. we did many of the exercises stated and whilst I know this model this reading helped me to feel more aware of the window of tolerance thanks.
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Performing under high pressure is an emotional experience. Hence, the use of emotion regulation strategies may prove to be highly effective in preventing choking under pressure. Using a golf putting task, we investigated the role of arousal on declined sport performance under pressure (pilot study) and the effectiveness of emotion regulation strategies in alleviating choking under pressure (main study). The pilot study showed that pressure resulted in decreased performance and this effect was partially mediated by increased arousal. The main study, a field study, showed that whereas the choking effect was observed in the control condition, reappraisal and, particularly, distraction were effective emotion regulation strategies in helping people to cope instead of choke under pressure. These findings suggest that interventions that aim to prevent choking under pressure could benefit from including emotion regulation strategies.
Low Arousal approach teaches us to understand our approach within the context of the psycho-physiological (or arousal) of the person we are supporting. The approach spells out the differences between and the need for proactive, active and reactive strategies. Furthermore, it teaches us to recognize the difference between a person who is calm, one that is escalating, one that is in crisis and one that is in post-crisis recovery.
This approach is anchored in relationship building, trust, respect and a philosophy of care. Without these four things, it is hard for a person to feel confident, secure and safe. It is also about understanding the neurology of autism which has some unique points that must be taken into account. It is difficult for a person to adapt, to be able to interpret their internal states and feelings, and effectively express wants and needs in every situation.
Teaching interoceptive awareness and calming strategies have helped to de-escalate situations that were heading towards problematic ones. My daughter, Julia, is becoming adept at recognizing the signs of increased anxiety and she has a plan how to reduce those feelings. She has come to the point of realizing that regular movement really helps her to feel better, especially with increased screen time as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is important to take training from an experienced Low Arousal trainer in order to understand the underlying causes of challenging behaviour, autism neurology, and to recognize the subtle signs of a person who is calm, escalating, in crisis or post-recovery from an incident. It is through group discussion, practice, and posing questions that one builds these skills.
Parenting an autistic child is a job that lasts a lifetime. By building relationships, effective communication, and fostering mutual respect, your child will have a more positive relationship with you.
Maureen Bennie created the Autism Awareness Centre in 2003 to address what she saw as a gap in support and advocacy for those struggling with autism and autism spectrum disorders. For Maureen, education brings positive change to the lives of those affected by autism and autism spectrum disorders.
Click to Read Maureen's Full Biography
Practicing strategies for decreasing hyperarousal can help you better manage stress, learn to self-regulate your emotions, and improve your window of tolerance. The window of tolerance is the optimal zone where we function most effectively in responding to the demands of life. We are calm, able to think clearly, and manage day-to-day activities. The impact of significant stress or trauma can push us out of our window of tolerance, leading to a state of hyperarousal.
When your emotions seem out of control or overwhelming, you can use a variety of skills to lower the intensity. These techniques are mostly based on mindfulness-based practices and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) interventions. They can help you feel calmer and allow you to utilize healthier coping skills when faced with extreme stress or adversity. Here are some strategies to help you decrease hyperarousal:
Pay attention to your breathing. Slow, deep, long breaths can help you maintain a sense of calm or help you return to a calmer state. Try to slow your breathing down to five or six breaths per minute, so your combined inhalations and exhalations should last about 10 to 12 seconds. You may find that a timer or app is helpful for your breathing exercises.
As you become more aware of how you respond to extreme stress, you can practice certain techniques to counter your reactions and remain within your optimal zone of arousal. You may try different strategies for decreasing hyperarousal to see which ones are most effective for you. A common approach is to use a combination of techniques.
But what if there was a better way? What if there were response strategies that could help customer service representatives turn customer complaints upside down? De-escalation training equips your team with the skills they need to navigate even the most challenging interactions, leaving customers feeling heard and respected.
Upset customers are bound to happen. The key is how you address them. Social media allows your customer service team to respond to negative feedback publicly, demonstrating your commitment to resolving issues and listening to customer concerns.
Social media empowers your customers to become brand advocates. Positive reviews, shares, and mentions all contribute to a positive online reputation. By providing exceptional customer service and creating a space for genuine interaction, you encourage your audience to become vocal supporters of your brand.
Information travels at lightning speed online. A negative social media post can quickly gain traction, spreading misinformation and negativity about your brand before you even have a chance to respond. De-escalation techniques help your customer service agents react swiftly and effectively to nip issues in the bud before they spiral out of control.
How you handle an online complaint shapes how people perceive your brand. A calm, professional response demonstrates your commitment to customer satisfaction and builds trust with your audience. Conversely, an aggressive or dismissive response can reinforce negative stereotypes and turn potential customers away.
In the digital age, understanding the psychology of conflict and aggression online is crucial for brands navigating social media. The anonymity and immediacy of the internet can amplify emotions, making it easier for an angry customer to express frustration more intensely than they might in person.
Negative, high-arousal emotions, such as anger, frustration, and outrage, are common drivers of online conflict. These emotions are characterized by heightened physiological responses, which can lead to impulsive and aggressive behavior. When customers experience product issues or poor service, their initial reaction may be dominated by these emotions, resulting in harsh public complaints on social media.
For example, an unhappy customer might post a scathing review or comment, driven by the immediate need to express their displeasure. This is often exacerbated by the instant gratification culture fostered by social media, where immediate responses are expected.
The online realm provides a sense of anonymity that can reduce social inhibitions. This phenomenon, known as the online disinhibition effect, allows individuals to express themselves more freely, often leading to more aggressive interactions. When an angry customer feels anonymous, they are more likely to voice their complaints harshly, without the usual restraints present in face-to-face interactions.
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