Navigation
Worksheets
Interactives
Videos
Articles
Client Education
Professional Guides
Topics
Problems
Anger
Anxiety
Communication
Depression
More +
Emotions
Grief
Relationships
Self-Esteem
Stress
Substance Use
Treatments
Art
CBT
DBT
Education
More +
Goals
Parenting and Behavior
Positive Psychology
Relaxation
Values
More
About
Help Center
Back online. You are currently offline.

Your browser is outdated. To ensure the best experience, update to the latest version of your preferred browser.

The Cycle of Anxiety

worksheet

When a person avoids a feared situation—whether through physical avoidance, the use of drugs and alcohol, or otherwise—the uncomfortable symptoms of anxiety quickly fade away.

Unfortunately, the relief doesn't last long. And next time, the anxiety will be worse. The brain thinks: "Last time I avoided this situation, and that felt good." The desire to avoid a situation becomes increasingly difficult to resist.

Many anxiety treatments, such as CBT and exposure therapies, work by breaking the cycle of anxiety and avoidance. Clients are encouraged to face the source of their anxieties, which has the opposite outcome of avoiding them. When faced head-on, anxiety will eventually shrink, and the desire for avoidance diminishes.

The Cycle of Anxiety worksheet illustrates this concept with a diagram and simple explanations of each step. Use this tool to teach clients the basics of anxiety, the rationale behind exposure therapies, and the importance of overcoming avoidance.

Success

Your account has been created.

Would you like to explore more features?

Recommended

Professional

Customizable and fillable worksheets.

Unlimited access to interactive therapy tools.

Support the creation of new tools for the entire mental health community.

Ad-free browsing.

See Plans