Cognitive Therapy of Anxiety Disorders

171

From Cognitive Therapy of Anxiety Disorders: Science and Practice by David A. Clark and Aaron T. Beck. Copyright
2010 by The Guilford Press. Permission to photocopy this appendix is granted to purchasers of this book for personal
use only (see copyright page for details).

aPPENDIX 5.7

Behavioral Responses to Anxiety Checklist

Name: Date:

Instructions: You will find below a checklist of various ways that people tend to respond to anxiety.
Please indicate how often you engage in each response when you are anxious, how effectively the
strategy reduces or eliminates anxious feelings, and whether you think the strategy unintentionally
leads to the persistence of your anxiety.

Scale Descriptions: How often do you engage in this response when you feel anxious? [0 = never,
50 = half of the time, 100 = all the time]; When you engage in this response, how effectively
does it reduce your anxiety? [0 = not at all; 50 = moderately effective in reducing anxiety, 100
= completely eliminates my anxiety]; based on your experience, to what extent do you think this
response contributes to a persistence of your anxiety? [0 = does not contribute at all, 50 = makes
a moderate contribution, 100 = is a very important factor in the persistence of my anxiety]

Behavioral and Emotional Responses

How Often

[0–100 scale]

Effective in

Reducing

anxiety

[0–100 scale]

Increases

Persistence

of anxiety

[0 –100]

1. Try to physically relax (e.g., muscle relaxation,
   controlled breathing, etc.)


2. Avoid situations that trigger anxiety


3. Leave situations whenever I feel anxious


4. Take prescription medication


5. Seek reassurance, support from spouse,
   family, or friends


6. Engage in a compulsive ritual (e.g., check,
   wash, count)


7. Distract myself with activities


8. Suppress my feelings (i.e., hold in my feelings)


9. Use alcohol, marijuana, or other street drugs


10. get very emotional, tearful


11. Have an anger outburst


12. become physically aggressive

(cont.)