ANXIETY

Updated: 25 SEPTEMBER 2025

ANXIETY AND A TAX ALLOWABLE DOG!

In respect of how metaphors are used, the book published by myself and Meir Stolear [Strategies for Thriving] , gives an example of the type of metaphor used both in the book and during clinical practice. Let me give you one simple and memorable example of how a ‘tax allowable' dog could help those suffering with ‘unwanted intrusive thoughts.’ Unwanted intrusive thoughts [UITs] are something that can trouble people a great deal. Such thinking is often linked to OCD and rumination. Rumination has been linked as a maintaining factor in a number of psychological disturbances like depression and guilt.

So you may see that UITs are an important subject. Rumination is the process where sufferers keep thinking about difficulties and problems, worrying that they should have done this or that, and what the consequences might be of not having done this or that. If you suffer with UITs you do not need us to tell you how troublesome it is!

Some time ago I asked a colleague to explain how my colleague could justify the cost of keeping his pet dog as a taxable expense! The very thought of it made my eyes sparkle with delight! I’m sure we have all had acquaintance with grumpy, bouncy dogs, dogs for the blind, sniffer dogs, fast greyhound dogs, damn right ferocious, and sometimes adorable dogs, but a tax deductible dog – how delightful I thought.

My colleague told me he brought his friendly dog into the therapy room to say ‘hallo’ to his client. However the client had been primed to completely ignore the dog. After initial attempts at ingratiating himself with the visitor, the dog eventually, like all dogs will, got fed up, and went and laid in the corner of the room to sulk.

This, my colleague explained, is a great way to demonstrate to client’s who have unwanted intrusive thoughts, that if they leave the thoughts alone instead of paying lots of attention to them, they will abate and go away.

The ‘tax allowable’ dog, is just one example of teaching an important technique for dealing, not only with unwanted intrusive thoughts, but other disturbances as well, such as anxiety and sleep problems.

You might find this metaphor simplistic, but it’s difficult to forget and we are sure you will find many other examples in this book which will ‘stay with you’ for a long time to come.

The Body and Anxiety

This reading below will help with an understanding of  the often seemingly bizarre and severe bodily effects of anxiety.

For over 60 years the ‘strange’ physical effects of anxiety upon the human body have been known. Yet in 2025 the importance, and the far reaching effects, of what anxiety can cause to one’s life span and life style, are little understood by the general population, and ‘lip’ service’ is still paid to them by the medical profession.

At the start of therapy it is essential you understand, and ‘buy into’ what anxiety can do to the human body. Why should you do this?

Therapees who seek help, more often than not, ignore the strong possibility their bodily symptoms are caused by anxiety.  This may be summarised by the phrases,  ‘It cannot be anxiety, I’ve got a real illness’, I’ve got pains, tingling all over my body, my head buzzes, I cannot concentrate, I’m overloaded with information, I’ve got high blood pressure, high sugar levels, I’ve got withdrawal symptoms, I suffer with insomnia”.

People who come to my clinic will have [rightly] had their symptoms extensively investigated by the doctors, and they will have been prescribed various medicaments to reduce the symptoms.  So the question is why are they turning up seeking help? 

The reason is their symptoms remain – both body and psychological.  Intuitively they know they are stressed and anxious and are seeking help.

However, despite having been warned their symptoms are typical and more likely signs of anxiety, there are frequent, but polite, silences and shakes of the head – all signs of disbelief – CAN’T BE THAT !

Here are some quotes from important researched observations, concerning the effects of anxiety upon the human body, to help convince you how severe symptoms of anxiety can be:

“There are frequent instances of the overproduction of sugar in the body and ensuing diabetes mellitus in states of anxiety and fear.” [i]

“So called cardiac neurosis are nothing but a somatic manifestation of anxiety” [ii].

“ The effects of anxiety upon the stomach, gut, gastric effects and associated unwanted effects of IBS [irritable bowel syndrome], can be almost instantaneous, as illustrated in the story of Tom. [iii].

“There is growing evidence demonstrating the ways in which psychological factors [anxiety, stress etc], have upon the immune system. The mind- immunity link is a two-way street”. [iv]

“The far reaching truths are that our mental states and physical health are inexorably intertwined….psychological factors alter our vulnerability to bacterial, viral infections, heart disease and cancers”. [v]

Why you are overly anxious, why your history, personality and life style maintains the anxiety are questions which need to be addressed, and resolved, as an essential part of the therapeutic encounter.

IF YOU THINK YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE SIGNS OF TROUBLESOME ANXIETY WHY NOT GIVE ME A RING?  01304 694168

[1] George Engel. 1962. Psychological Developments in Health and Disease. Philadelphia. p. 391.

[ii]. Dunbar Flanders. 1946. Emotions and Bodily Changes. Columbia University Press. p.63.

[iii] May Rollo. 1977. The Meaning of Anxiety. Norton. p.76. Baker D. 1989. IBS An Essential Guide About and Controlling IBS. p.4. Thistle Publications.

[iv]. Martin Paul, 1997. The Sickening Mind. Harper Collins. p.93.

[v]. Martin Paul, 1997. The Sickening Mind. Harper Collins.  p. 314