During this course, the aims and objectives will be achieved by a combination of:
- Presentations to help students develop a good level of knowledge in anxiety and panic, including what can bring on anxiety and panic, changes that take place in the brain and body when someone experiences anxiety and panic and how to recognise the signs.
- Demonstration of different simple yet effective techniques to help students develop the skills they need to help their clients/patients overcome anxiety and panic.
- Practice sessions where students can practice the techniques on each other to help them become confident in their use.
- Discussions on how the tutors have used the techniques to further help student understanding in how the techniques can and have been applied.
- Homework outside the classroom where students will be asked to apply their learnings and provide feedback the following week.
Discussions and case studies on how the techniques have been used in a cancer care setting to overcome treatment related anxiety e.g. cannulation, radiotherapy mask making, MRI scans, CT scans etc.
| Date |
Topics |
|
Week 1
Thursday 11 January 2024, 1:30 to 4:30pm
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- What is anxiety/stress/panic attack?
- Definition of anxiety
- Anxiety vs stress
- Common anxiety disorders.
- Difference between an anxiety attack and panic attack
- Structure of the nervous system; brain, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, somatic nervous system, autonomic nervous system, sympathetic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous system.
- How the stress response is initiated:
- Autonomic Nervous System
- hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
- The brain and the stress response
- Physiological changes that occur during the stress response
- Symptoms of the stress response: physical, behavioural and psychological
- Symptoms of a panic attack
- The Freeze response and symptoms
- Techniques:
- Introduction to techniques
- Moist mouth
- Diaphragmatic breathing Youtube video
- Rectangular breathing
- Samavritti breathing
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation
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Week 2
Thursday 18 January 2024, 1:30 to 4:30pm
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- Introduction to the vagus nerve and the polyvagal theory
- Window of tolerance
- Cause and effect?
- Frames and reference
- Neuroception
- Perception and projection. How do we construct our reality?
- Reconstructing the model of the world
- How do we frame what we want?
- What would better feel like?
- How do you know that you are feeling better?
- Loosen the knot to choose to regulate
- Techniques:
- Building rapport
- Countering negative self-talk
- The Calming Hand
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Week 3
Thursday 25 January 2024, 1:30 to 4:30pm
|
- How do stress management techniques work?
- Stimulating Parasympathetic Nervous System
- Understanding the brain waves
- Calming amygdala hi-jack
- Feel-good hormones
- Neuroplasticity of the brain, Recap on Anxiety, Presentation on Neuroscience, Neuroplasticity and the Brain, 2 pathways of Anxiety
- Cortex Pathway, Amygdala Pathway, Sleep and effective sleep patterns on the Amygdala, Exercise and the amygdala, Amygdala and breathing exercises
- Techniques
- The Calming Hand/squeezy star
- Visualisation/creative imagery – safe space
- How to use the imagination to reduce anxiety around imagined future catastrophises
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Week 4
Thursday 1 February 2024, 1:30 to 4:30pm
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- Polyvagal theory further explained
- Placebo and nocebo language
- Mindful based approaches to combat
- Primary and secondary suffering
- Approaches to soften resistance
- Permanence and non-permanence of suffering
- Loving kindness and compassion
- RAIN
- Coping with panic attacks
- Putting it all together – Symptom Effectiveness Chart
|
Suggested reading
- The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook
- The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook
- 30 Scripts for Relaxation Imagery and Inner Healing
Note: This programme may be subject to change.
The Christie Charity
