By Brian Robinson. "Look, I need to know what's going on. My husband's been missing for three weeks. He was last seen going into his laboratory at your university. I don't know if he's dead or alive. All I've been told is that he's missing. Look, this is your university so you're responsible." "It's complicated … Continue reading Space Odyssey
Author: Brian
For the past eight years or so I've worked for a national charity helping people suffering from anxiety disorders. I have been trained by the charity and to deepen my understanding I've taken a diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I am absolutely fascinated with the brain in general, and in particular with the part that brings these disorders into play.
I am also interested in literature and the arts. I took an A level in English Literature and studied towards, but never completed, a Bachelor of Arts degree with the Open University.
Now I like to amuse myself by writing flash fiction stories.
Anxiety: 10 Tips to Help Recover
By Brian Robinson. The anxiety genie, out of the bottle. How do you get the anxiety genie back in the bottle, ten tips: Try and see anxiety as a disorder caused by high tension levels. If you are relaxed you cannot be anxious. Ask yourself throughout the day: is what I'm doing producing tension or … Continue reading Anxiety: 10 Tips to Help Recover
Anxiety: Communication Therapy
Brian Robinson. The internal network. It can be quite useful to try and come up with a definition for anxiety. I say this because once you have a sound definition, you automatically open up a recovery pathway. So, we might ask, can anxiety be defined as an emotional disorder; is it a tension disorder; is … Continue reading Anxiety: Communication Therapy
Anxiety: The Problem With Reactions
By Brian Robinson. Anxiety: a spur to action We know that people react to anxiety in a variety of ways. Some people fly into panic mode. While others tend to sit quiet and ride the panic out. In many instances, how we react to panic can reinforce the idea that we are in danger. Our … Continue reading Anxiety: The Problem With Reactions
Strange Things
By Brian Robinson. Some very strange things have been happening lately. For example, the other day I came home to find my wife had baked a cake. She never bakes cakes. I knew straight away something was up. She's obviously having an affair. It's as plain as day. That's what women do when they want … Continue reading Strange Things
Anxiety in a Word
By Brian Robinson. A blurred word with blurred meaning. When you attempt to describe a complicated thing, or a number of different things in a single word, it is bound to lead to misunderstandings. For example, when we use the word anxiety what exactly do we mean? What is it we are trying to describe? … Continue reading Anxiety in a Word
The Misunderstanding
By Brian Robinson. Plugged "Why won't mummy wake up dad?" "I'm afraid she's been in a bad accident son." "Is she going to be okay? She looks all right." "She might look all right on the outside, but I'm afraid she's not all right on the inside. Her brain's been damaged and it's not working … Continue reading The Misunderstanding
Health Phobia
By Brian Robinson. Many people who suffer from general anxiety also develop worries about their health. The tendency for this to emerge is a common characteristic of GAD (General Anxiety Disorder) and panic. When this happens, this could be no more than raised health concerns. Or, it could be that the person has developed a … Continue reading Health Phobia
The Consultation
By Brian Robinson. "Come in Mrs Adams. Please, take a seat. Can I call you Susan? Mrs Adams sounds so formal." "I'd rather you didn't." "I understand. That's not a problem. Okay, so I know roughly why you've asked for therapy. You've already spoken a bit about that. This first session will concentrate on assessment. … Continue reading The Consultation
Anxiety: The Problem With Resistance.
By Brian Robinson. Punching makes sense when there is something to punch. There is nothing more natural than to resist the things we dislike or fear. That's the way we're wired. And most of the time it works. Resistance is our friend: it's not our enemy. But what if the things we are trying to … Continue reading Anxiety: The Problem With Resistance.
Brian's Blog 