Abnormal Psychology Anxiety Reduction Strategies Relaxation training as a response to anxiety Clients are taught the techniques of relaxation - deep and regular breathing - body awareness - visual / auditory imagery - alternating tensing / relaxing

Abnormal Psychology People have a tendency to develop habitual patterns of response to anxiety which lead to stress and impulsive behaviour Relaxation can be patterned to be the habitual response which allows clients to deal with anxiety more adaptively

Abnormal Psychology Exposure Techniques 1. Systematic Desensitization Clients are exposed to increments of anxiety provoking situations at the same time they engage in behaviours that compete with the anxiety. Steps in Systematic Desensitization 1. Relaxation training 2. Development of an anxiety hierarchy (imagined) 3. Movement through hierarchy with relaxation

Abnormal Psychology 2. In vivo Desensitization Anxiety Reduction Strategies Client is exposed to anxiety producing situation through elements present in real life not just imagined Steps in In vivo desensitization 1. Relaxation training 2. Develop anxiety hierarchy ( real life ) 3. Movement through hierarchy with relaxation

Abnormal Psychology 3. Flooding Anxiety Reduction Strategies May be applied to imagined or in vivo (real life) exposure to anxiety provoking stimuli Involves client exposure to the actual situations in real life or imaginary situations Remaining exposed to anxiety producing situations for a prolonged period of time allow the experience of anxiety to decrease on its own. In flooding clients are prevented from engaging in their typical maladaptive responses to anxiety producing situations