You have a fear of spiders, or of flying, or of crowds. Are you just sitting there suffering? It’s time to try Exposure Therapy!
Exposure therapy is a type of Behavioral Therapy used to help the patient confront a feared situation, object, thought, or memory and dispel its power to produce fear and anxiety. It involves reliving a traumatic experience in a controlled, therapeutic environment.
The Anxiety Disorders can paralyze the sufferer with ever-mounting avoidance behaviors. While successful for the moment, avoidance just sets aside the fear and anxiety triggered by a situation. They are sure to come back, stronger than ever.
Exposure therapy has been shown to be effective with many of the Anxiety Disorders, including Social Phobia (SAD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), panic attacks and Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder (ASAD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and specific phobias.
This is the second of a two-part series of articles on Exposure Therapy. It focuses on tips to make your Exposure Therapy successful. Today’s installment has these headings:
- Exposure Therapy: Better in real life or in imagination?
- Tips for successful Exposure Therapy experiences
Yesterday’s Part 1 describes Exposure Therapy and what goes into a typical Exposure Therapy plan:
- Exposure Therapy is based on habituation
- Exposure Therapy counteracts Anxiety Disorders’ avoidance
- Exposure Therapy is a part of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Characteristics of a typical Exposure Therapy plan
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder,
Agoraphobia,
Anxiety,
Anxiety Disorder,
Exposure Therapy,
GAD - General Anxiety Disorder,
Panic Attacks,
Panic Disorder,
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
SAD - Social Phobia,
Specific Phobias
The neighbor’s dog barks night and day. If you have gotten used to it, you have used one of the root principles of Exposure Therapy.
Exposure therapy is a type of Behavioral Therapy used to help the patient confront a feared situation, object, thought, or memory and dispel its power over them. It involves reliving a traumatic experience in a controlled, therapeutic environment.
In a way, Exposure Therapy is related to the old maxim “face your fears,” but instead of jumping into a terror-inducing situation with both feet, therapy usually advocates a carefully planned, gradual approach to alleviating fears.
Exposure therapy has been shown to be effective with many of the Anxiety Disorders, including Social Phobia (SAD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), panic attacks and Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder (ASAD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and specific phobias.
This two-part series of articles describes what Exposure Therapy is, and offers tips to make your Exposure Therapy successful. Today’s installment has these headings:
- Exposure Therapy is based on habituation
- Exposure Therapy counteracts Anxiety Disorders’ avoidance
- Exposure Therapy is a part of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Characteristics of a typical Exposure Therapy plan
Tomorrow’s part of the article will continue the discussion under these headings:
- Exposure Therapy: Better in real life or in imagination?
- Tips for successful Exposure Therapy experiences
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder,
Agoraphobia,
Anxiety,
Anxiety Disorder,
Exposure Therapy,
GAD - General Anxiety Disorder,
Panic Attacks,
Panic Disorder,
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
SAD - Social Phobia,
Specific Phobias
Here I am again with another mental health miscellany for you! It’s not all tragic, either — there’s some right good humor mixed in!
But first: a birthday announcement. On June 25th, Anxiety, Panic & Health celebrated its first year of existence. During that time I’ve posted 132 articles and have had 834 comments on them. The top 5 articles were:
Rather than bore you with any more introductory blather, let’s get right to it. You’ll get a taste of what’s in store for you from the headlines of the sections:
- A Pioneer of brain imaging talks about her career and research
- Eyewitnesses may be more witness than eyes
- A touch — well, more of a whack — of psychiatric humor!
- Senior citizens may quit taking their medicine when the Medicare “Doughnut Hole” hits
- Materialistic people form strong brand connections when they fear death — really!
- Finally, another “Where have you been?”
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Announcement,
Anxiety,
fMRI,
Medications
You experience a pounding heart, sweaty palms, and dizziness. What do you think of? Are you frightened? Do you think you’re going crazy?
People who get scared when they have these symptoms — even if the cause is something as mundane as stress, exercise or caffeine — are more likely to develop a clinical case of an Anxiety Disorder, such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or Panic Disorder, according to recent research. The chronic fear of these kinds of symptoms is a condition called Anxiety Sensitivity.
Those of us with Anxiety Disorders — and those of us without — can become hyper-aware of bodily sensations that lead to anxiety. When this awareness becomes morbid and takes over our lives, it can easily be labeled Anxiety Sensitivity.
Anxiety Sensitivity is a concept introduced in the 1980’s which has attracted a great deal of attention from researchers and clinicians. It is thought to be a preventable precursor to developing Anxiety Disorders, and a treatable condition for those who have already have a disorder.
This article explores Anxiety Sensitivity and its implications for you under the following headings:
- What is Anxiety Sensitivity?
- Is Anxiety Sensitivity inherited or is it learned?
- What is the relationship between Anxiety Sensitivity and Anxiety Disorders?
- Treating Anxiety Sensitivity
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Anxiety,
Anxiety Disorder,
Anxiety Sensitivity,
Panic Attack,
Panic Attacks,
Panic Disorder,
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Artwork by Maria Yakunchikova
We all have fears and anxieties from time to time, but for most people they trouble you today and are gone tomorrow.
It’s when these fears and anxieties become persistent that they threaten to derail your life. Your every moment, your every thought is taken up by negative thoughts. You feel overwhelmed and it seems that everything is happening at once.
Stanley Popovich is the author of today’s guest post. He is a Penn State graduate who struggled with fear and anxiety for 15 years. He has written a book based on his personal experiences in overcoming his fear, as well as on interviews with a variety of professionals.
The book, “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods” is easy to read and comprehend. It presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. It is available both as a paperback and as an ebook. For more information and a number of helpful free articles, visit his web site, “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear.”
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Anxiety,
Fear
Artwork by Andy Warhol
The recession has most of America in its clutches, but it’s not time to roll over and play dead. It’s time to be proactive!
The magnitude of the this calamity causes people to have a great deal of stress and anxiety over their financial situations. They react to this stress and anxiety in a variety of different ways — unfortunately among them is denial, paralysis, and sticking their heads in the sand.
It doesn’t have to be so. I hope that the main thing you come away with from this series is that you can be proactive; you can maintain control over your life even in the worst of times.
This is the fourth and final part of a four-part series on “Surviving the Recession.” Today’s installment has 16 tips to help you regain control of your finances, your emotional life, and your relationships. Yesterday’s post, “Surviving the Recession, Part 3: 15 Things You Can Do to Regain Control” has 15 more tips, for a total of 31.
The tips are presented in no particular order. They come from over 20 different sources, each with a particular point of view. There may be some overlap, there even may be some contradictions, but there is a wealth of good advice among them.
Be sure to read the first and second parts of this series. The first, “Surviving the Recession, Part 1: What It’s Doing to Us,” discusses the effects of financial crisis on Americans under these subject headings:
- How are people handling the recession?
- Women in particular are stressed by the economy
- What the recession and economic worry are doing to us
“Surviving the Recession, Part 2: Anxiety, Harmful Behavior, and Paralysis” is the second part of the series, and deals with how the recession is affecting our mental health. It covers the topics:
- Economic stress and mental disorders
- Excessive worry may lead to Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- If you’re stressed out, anxious or depressed, avoid turning to harmful behavior
- Paralyzing yourself: Denial and catastrophizing
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Anxiety,
Anxiety Disorder,
Economy,
Recession,
Stress
Artwork by Andy Warhol
The current economic crisis has been a disaster for many individuals and families, to say the least.
As has been pointed out in Parts 1 and 2 of this series, the recession is causing almost unbearable stress and anxiety to untold millions of Americans. For some, it is pushing them into harmful behaviors and mental illness. Yet, however bad your situation is, there are things you can do to help alleviate some of the stress and anxiety it is causing you.
This is the third part of a four-part series on “Surviving the Recession.” Today’s installment has 15 tips to help you regain control of your finances, your emotional life, and your relationships. Tomorrow’s post, “Surviving the Recession, Part 4: 16 More Things You Can Do to Regain Control“ has 16 more tips, for a total of 31.
The tips are presented in no particular order. They come from over 20 different sources, each with a particular point of view. There may be some overlap, there even may be some contradictions, but there is a wealth of good advice among them. I hope that the main thing you come away with is that you can be proactive; you can maintain control over your life even in the worst of times.
Be sure to read the first and second parts of this series. The first, “Surviving the Recession, Part 1: What It’s Doing to Us,” discusses the effects of financial crisis on Americans under these subject headings:
- How are people handling the recession?
- Women in particular are stressed by the economy
- What the recession and economic worry are doing to us
“Surviving the Recession, Part 2: Anxiety, Harmful Behavior, and Paralysis” is the second part of the series, and deals with how the recession is affecting our mental health. It covers the topics:
- Economic stress and mental disorders
- Excessive worry may lead to Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- If you’re stressed out, anxious or depressed, avoid turning to harmful behavior
- Paralyzing yourself: Denial and catastrophizing
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Anxiety,
Anxiety Disorder,
Economy,
Recession,
Stress
Artwork by Andy Warhol
The sustained economic tensions of the recession are taking a dire toll on Americans.
Stress and anxiety are now everyday demons threatening to overcome your life, rendering you helpless and hopeless.
In this climate, many Americans are finding that their stress and anxiety are growing to the point where they are more than annoyances, but real problems in and of themselves. We see more and more people self-medicating with alcohol and drugs. Others curl up in a ball of denial, hoping it will all just go away.
This series of 4 articles about surviving the recession offers an understanding of the situation that so many of us find ourselves in, as well as positive suggestions to help you regain control of your life and finances.
Today’s installment details how stress and anxiety can tip you over into Anxiety Disorder or other mental illnesses, as well as leading to harmful behaviors. It covers these topics:
- Economic stress and mental disorders
- Excessive worry may lead to Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- If you’re stressed out, anxious or depressed, avoid turning to harmful behaviors
- Paralyzing yourself: Denial and catastrophizing
The final two installments, “Surviving the Recession, Part 3: 15 Things You Can Do to Regain Control,” and “Surviving the Recession, Part 4: 16 More Things You Can Do to Regain Control” is a list of proactive steps that you can take to regain control, not only of your financial situation, but your and your family’s lives. It will be published tomorrow.
Be sure to read yesterday’s installment, “Surviving the Recession, Part 1: What It’s Doing to Us.” It discusses what the recession is doing to us, and has the following sections:
- How are people handling the recession?
- Women in particular are stressed by the economy
- What the recession and economic worry are doing to us
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Anxiety,
Anxiety Disorder,
Economy,
Recession,
Stress
Artwork by Andy Warhol
With the nation’s housing market in a ditch, the stock market in freefall, food prices rising, and government bailouts making the news almost every day, it’s no surprise that so many people are feeling anxious and stressed about the economy and their financial futures.
Anxiety and mild stress are a normal reactions to these events. It’s your body’s way of telling you to stay alert and work harder to protect your finances and your family’s future.
But with the nation in a recession, more Americans are feeling panicky about their future, leading to a remarkable increase in stress about their finances and job.
More than that, local and national mental health experts say that the loss of jobs, homes and retirement savings has triggered an increase in the number of people with symptoms related to toxic stress, Anxiety, or depression, such as changes in sleeping and eating patterns, headaches, and nervousness.
This series of 4 articles about surviving the recession offers an understanding about the situation so many of us find ourselves in, as well as positive suggestions to help you regain control of your life and finances. Today’s installment covers what the recession is doing to us, and has the following sections:
- How are people handling the recession?
- Women in particular are stressed by the economy
- What the recession and economic worry are doing to us
Part 2, “Surviving the Recession, Part 2: Anxiety, Harmful Behavior, and Paralysis” details how stress can tip you over into Anxiety or other mental disorders, and can lead to harmful behaviors. It will have these sections:
- Economic stress and mental disorders
- Excessive worry may lead to Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- If you’re stressed out, anxious or depressed, avoid turning to harmful behaviors
- Paralyzing yourself: Denial and catastrophizing
The final 2 installments, “Surviving the Recession, Part 3: 15 Things You Can Do to Regain Control,” and ”Surviving the Recession, Part 4: 16 More Things You Can Do to Regain Control“ are lists of proactive steps that you can take to take back control, not only of your financial situation, but your and your family’s life.
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Anxiety,
Anxiety Disorder,
Economy,
Recession,
Stress
Artwork by Robert Mickelsen
Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder affects almost 7 percent of the American people. Yet it was unheard of only 15 years ago.
Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder sufferers experience extreme anxiety and fear when separated from major attachment figures; avoidance of being alone; and fears that harm will befall those close to them.
Because the diagnosis is so new, there is no standard way to treat Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder. Sadly, it is hardly mentioned in the standard diagnostic manuals that mental health care professionals use.
This two-part post accompanies the posting of the reference article on Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder. The current post is the second of two. The two posts are a short version of the reference article, which has full information about the disorder. The information in today’s post falls under the following headings:
- How does Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder affect your life?
- Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder and other mental disorders
- What is the treatment for Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder?
Yesterday’s post, part 1, had these headings:
- Just what is Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder?
- How many people have Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder?
- What are the diagnostic criteria for Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder?
[Read the entire article...]
Tagged as:
Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder,
Anxiety,
Anxiety Disorder
