Feeling jittery before a big test or presentation? You’re not alone! Anxiety is a universal emotion, but it’s often misunderstood—and this International OCD Awareness Week (Oct. 12–18), CGTN Health Talk is here to set the record straight.
On a special episode, Dr. Wang Zhen, vice president of the Shanghai Mental Health Center, breaks down why anxiety isn’t the villain we make it out to be. “Anxiety doesn’t disappear just because you avoid it. The more bravely you confront it, the more likely you are to resolve the issue,” he explains. 😌🧠
Here’s the deal: avoidance and repetitive rituals can feel like a quick fix, but they’re just putting a band-aid on a deeper issue. Over time, this coping loop can spiral into obsessive-compulsive patterns.
So, what's the game plan? Dr. Wang’s team is exploring a mix of:
- Psychotherapy (talk it out!)
- Medications (support your brain chemistry)
- Neurostimulation therapies like TES and TMS
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS) for severe cases
These combined approaches are showing promise in helping people break free from anxiety’s grip.
“Stress is everywhere, so anxiety is ever-present. But more often than not, anxiety drives us to grow. We should 'dance' with anxiety with an open mind so we can choreograph the best moves of our own lives,” Dr. Wang says. 💃✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
