Shpancer, N. (2020, February 25). Anxiety sensitivity: When what we fear is fear itself. Psychology Today. Retrieved December 21, 2022, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/202002/anxiety-sensitivity-when-what-we-fear-is-fear-itself 

Anxiety Sensitivity: When What We Fear Is Fear Itself

- Psychoeducation (teaching the patient about their diagnosis by explaining the physiology of anxiety or how the flight-fight system works)
- Cognitive Restructuring (identifying, challenging, and replacing the patient's beliefs causing AS)
- Emotional Acceptance (teach patients to mindfully observe their reactions rather than trying to control them)
- Interoceptive Exposure (train clients to manage symptoms, instead of fearing them, after exposing themselves to their own bodily sensations)
- In Vivo Situational Exposure (exposing patients to their feared situations and instructing them to remain in that situation to "face their face", eventually reducing the fear)

University of Texas at Austin

Anxiety Sensitivity (AS) describes the fear of anxiety-related symptoms that are often accompanied by hyperarousal, pain, stomach distress, and racing thoughts. Individuals experience physical and social fears alongside concerns for mental capability.

Anxiety Sensitivity

- Fear of Chronic Medical Conditions
- Avoidance of Daily Activities
- Engagement in Unhealthy Practices
- Pathophysiological Alterations

Effects of AS

Current Treatments for AS

- Stressful life events are fond to be longitudinally associated with increases in AS ( research suggests these cause self-focused repetitive thought like rumination)
- Specific stressful events relating to health and family are predictive of increase in AS
- Uncued panic attacks can predict increased AS in adults

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