The anxiety disorders manipulate people by injecting rules into consciousness, then using that set of laws to take over mental territory. The five anxiety disorders (phobias, panic, social anxiety, generalized anxiety and OCD) control people by generating an absolute standard for certainty and comfort. We will look at the common denominators of this game, and isolate its manifestations in each disorder. Then we will explore how the therapist can teach clients to gain ground by engineering their own tactics and strategies, including the second-order change of switching game boards altogether!
Those suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder are convinced that great harm will come if they do not comply with rigidly set rules of safety. The therapist can reframe the nature of the problem and incorporate all interventions within four simple but provocative guidelines. Then, utilization and pattern disruption lead to new experiences that challenge the dysfunctional beliefs of the client.