María Sol Stagnitto: "When anxiety is not treated, it can become chronic".

Psychologist María Sol Stagnitto talks to us about the techniques used to combat anxiety.

Anxiety is not by definition a psychological problem; practically everyone experiences this phenomenon in their daily lives despite being in good physical and mental health. However, sometimes anxiety becomes overwhelming, and that is where psychological disturbances appear which, if not addressed and overcome, can become chronic.

To understand how psychotherapy helps people to overcome these anxiety problems, we talked to psychologist María Sol Stagnitto, an expert in this form of anxiety.expert in this form of discomfort.

Interview with María Sol Stagnitto: techniques to mitigate panic and anxiety.

María Sol Stagnitto is a cognitive psychologist specialized in anxiety and emotion management.. In her daily life she helps many people affected by stress and anxiety problems through psychotherapy programs and workshops developed by herself; in this interview, she talks to us about how psychology works to combat the disorders associated with anxiety.

How would you define the psychological problems associated with anxiety, and the manifestation of a state of panic?

In principle, it is necessary to emphasize that when we refer to anxiety as a problem we are talking about when it is in a dysfunctional intensity, because in reality we all have anxiety, which is normal and necessary for survival. It is to be expected that this physiological reaction to situations feared as real dangers is awakened.

But anxiety disorders can be generated when the person does not know how to manage his emotions properly, and lives for a long time in a stressful situation due to an imaginary and not real danger, which can lead to a panic attack. The symptoms of anxiety are diverse, and when several of them occur together, at least four, the panic attack is constituted.

It is necessary to know that when the problem is not adequately treated, it can become chronic, generating anguish, demotivation, insecurity, exaggerated fears and irritability, among others.

As for the psychological techniques used to manage panic and anxiety, do they all have some element in common?

The most effective techniques to manage anxiety are based on Cognitive Psychology and Mindfulness meditation. The essential resource for this type of treatment is psychoeducation, that is, learning to manage what we feel, so that these emotions do not overwhelm us, and what we think, to have a healthier mind and face dysfunctional thoughts. As well as learning to reduce physical symptoms and mental hyperactivity, with mindfulness tools.

In what context are these techniques most useful?

They can be used at any time, as they are adapted to the day-to-day vortex in which we live. They are simple techniques that make enormous changes in our way of living, and cleanse the mind of all the obsessive ideas that can harass us.

Are these techniques compatible with the online therapy modality?

I have been conducting online sessions for years, as I am convinced that the tools I want to transmit transcend the screen, and can reach people anywhere in the world who need psychological support. The ideal for this pathology is to do a specific treatment in order to know how to face it.

The method I created unites the most useful exercises of both disciplines, Cognitive psychology and Mindfulness meditation, based on all my experience, generating highly effective results in a short time of applying it. They learn to live fully, suppressing the state of hyper-alertness and fear of disease.

What are the techniques to reduce the level of anxiety that you use most in therapy?

There are many, but the most recurrent are: questioning negative and obsessive thoughts, recognizing which are their anxiogenic agents, being able to have a balanced life and applying mindfulness in their daily life.

They can feel very well from the first sessions, losing the fear of physical sensations, knowing that it is only a moment of discomfort and not resisting to dissuade them easily.

Finally, accepting the emotionality allows a more accurate response to be taken, and prevents anxiety crises by maintaining optimal levels of anxiety. We will always have anxiety, the important thing is to use these techniques so that it is not extreme and does not interfere in the quality of life of people.

In what way is the improvement in patients affected by anxiety problems?

As they exercise the techniques consciously, and work on their well-being, they see great improvements in all areas of their lives.

They increase their personal security and self-esteem, they can enjoy the present moment without their mind taking them to the past or the future, they reduce social anxiety, they can act without shame in public, they stop avoiding situations they fear, they are calmer and without panic symptoms, they learn to communicate assertively, reducing unnecessary arguments and protecting the healthy bonds that make us so happy.