The triple anxiety response system

What aspects would you look for to identify anxiety? Many people (especially those who have never suffered from it) consider that it is a subjective and private event; That is, it is only related to what the individual feels. This same belief is what sometimes prevents us from detecting that we are suffering from this problem. Therefore, it is important that you know the triple response system of anxiety.

There are those who are aware that certain physical manifestations (such as difficulty breathing) can be a sign of anxiety. However, if this symptom is not accompanied by the aforementioned subjective sensation, they directly rule out that anxiety is the problem. For this reason, they begin to look for an organic cause that they almost never find.

Actually, Anxiety (like the rest of emotions) manifests itself through several aspects and it is necessary to analyze each one of them to reach a conclusion about what is happening. This is what the well-known triple response system model postulates.

What is the triple anxiety response system?

The triple response system model (also known as Lang’s model in honor of its author) was postulated by psychologist Peter Lang in 1968. It arose from his observations of a group of phobic patients he was treating. At the time it was accepted that emotions had a unidimensional manifestation: that is, that Cognitive, physiological, and behavioral measures correlated with each other and changed in tandem.

Lang then discovered that each of these three slopes followed its own course and did not necessarily adjust to the changes in the others. Thus, anxiety can manifest itself through thoughts, bodily sensations and behaviors, but these three systems work independently. The intensity, frequency, duration or moment of appearance of each of these manifestations may be different.

Cognitive

The cognitive response system refers to the thoughts that accompany anxiety and the feelings that arise from them. Thus, it includes the following elements:

Mental images about possible catastrophic events. Limiting thoughts that are poorly adjusted to reality. Negative beliefs about oneself. Fear, worry, insecurity. Fear of losing control. Difficulty concentrating and making decisions.

Physiological

This aspect includes all the physical symptoms and bodily sensations that appear as a result of anxiety. These are mediated by the autonomic nervous system and are manifested, among others, in the following experiences:

Tachycardia.Sweating.Muscle tension.Headaches or digestive problems.Difficulty breathing.

Behavioral

The motor or behavioral response encompasses the actions or movements carried out when experiencing anxiety. These can be direct (for example tics, stuttering, nail biting, or moving the leg incessantly); but they can also be indirect (avoiding or escaping from certain situations to avoid the discomfort they cause).

The behavioral response also includes all the harmful behaviors that people with anxiety use to relieve or manage their distress. These can range from substance abuse (such as tobacco, alcohol or other drugs) to eating large amounts of food.

The triple response system helps us detect and address anxiety

All of the above implies that Anxiety goes far beyond a mere subjective experience, as it also affects the physical body and behavior. of those who suffer from it. But it also alerts us that these components can occur independently.

That is, a person may feel apparently calm and manifest anxiety through chest tightness or digestive problems. And, in the same way, someone can feel physically well and yet engage in binge eating that responds to anxiety.

To identify this emotion (and any other) It is essential to evaluate the three systems separately, as symptoms may present unequally. in each one of them. In addition, this analysis of the triple response system also helps to make the psychological intervention much more complete and, therefore, more effective. Working on thoughts, bodily sensations and behavior in a specific way increases the success of the intervention.

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