Analysis of the Role and Process of Emotion Regulation in Relation with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Abstract

This paper analyzes the role of emotion regulation in patients diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Although there are various types of emotion regulation, this paper studies cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression specifically because of their prevalence and imperative role in the behavioral aftermath of emotion. Cognitive reappraisal is studied as an antecedent-focused strategy to control and modify the meaning of a situation, whereas expressive suppression is analyzed as a response-focused strategy that alters behaviors associated with situations that elicit emotion. Patients diagnosed with GAD use emotion regulation as both a defensive strategy and a coping mechanism. Through this understanding, the role of Emotion Regulation Therapy (ERT) in conjunction with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is depicted. Emotion Regulation Therapy is also proposed as an alternative to CBT because of its ability to cater specifically to individuals with anxiety disorders. This paper studies the implications of the usage of emotion regulation both as a coping mechanism that is self-employed and therapeutically used by health professionals.