Retraining the brain…
Anyone who has ever experienced anxiety knows how terrifying it can be. The “what if” questions are unending. In moderate doses, anxiety sharpens our senses, but can paralyze us in the extreme. While some anxiety is normal, an anxiety disorder involves worries and fears spiraling out of control. Untreated, it tends to worsen and make life smaller and smaller.
Anxiety Disorders present in a number of ways including panic, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, health anxiety, phobias, and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder). According to the NIMH, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problems diagnosed in the US.
Panic, Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety, Health Anxiety, & Phobia
- Evidence-based research has shown cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and exposure therapy to be favored and effective treatments. In some cases, the combination of CBT and medication (e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs) may yield better outcomes.
- Panic Issues, in particular, may send people to an emergency room because of fear of a heart attack. Sometimes a person cannot tell the difference between a cardiac event and an acute panic attack. If a panic attack is diagnosed by a medical doctor, referral to a psychologist or other metal health provider for follow up is often made.
- Anxiety Medication failures or falling short of expectations may be the reason clients seek psychotherapy. Other clients may exhaust the possibilities of psychotherapy before considering anxiety medications.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Are you paralyzed or trapped by endless cycles of unrelenting obsessive thinking and OCD’s bossy ways? My post Getting Ready for OCD Therapy may help ease the path to your care.
- Along the way, many obstacles need to be overcome in committing to OCD therapy. Overwhelming fears can prevent some from seeking treatment.
- OCD is often treated with a particular technique called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Sadly, some research OCD and delay treatment because ERP seems terrifying. If this sounds familiar, please know that a psychologist, trained in ERP, can help you reclaim life.
- When setbacks occur, and they will, my post on OCD Relapse Prevention can help.
Anxiety and OCD issues are frequently evaluated and treated at my office. Whether your symptoms are mild or extreme, next steps can be found to tame symptoms and improve your quality of life. Successful therapy helps clients master reliable tools for better self-regulation of anxiety and care of the nervous system.
“Anxiousness…a very difficult disease. The patient feels something like a thorn, something prickling over and over and nausea may be present.”
HIPPOCRATES, ON DISEASES (4TH CENTURY BCE)
