Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder that develops after one experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. Examples of such traumatic events include natural disaster (such as flood, fire, or earthquake); rape; war; terrorist attack; physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; assault, torture, automobile accident, frightening airplane flight, or getting a diagnosis of a life-threatening illness….
Preoccupation with fears of having a serious disease, being obsessed with one’s body, constantly looking for signs of something wrong with one’s health and misinterpreting those signs, are the essential features of Illness Anxiety Disorder. People with this disorder can fear a brain tumor when they have a headache; skin cancer when they see skin…
Phobias are not unusual. There are over 200 of them, most with names that are difficult to pronounce. A common phobia is arachnophobia, a fear of spiders. A fear of heights is called acrophobia. Don’t confuse acrophobia with aerophobia, which is a fear of flying, or astraphobia, which is a fear of thunder and lighting….
Imagine being unable to leave the house without checking the locks at least eight times. Imagine having a rigid routine for getting dressed and having to start all over if you didn’t follow the routine exactly. Imagine having to shower three times every morning because three is a lucky number. These are just a few…
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by unexpected and recurring panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that occurs for no apparent reason and triggers severe physical reactions. Panic attacks can be very frightening, and those experiencing them often fear they are having a heart attack or even dying….
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is best characterized by frequent or constant worry, anxiety, and tension, even when there is minimal or no cause. People who experience GAD find themselves unable to control their worry and often report being anxious most of their lives. The worry they experience is often related to events or activities like…
People often feel nervous when they go on a first date or feel butterflies prior to giving a speech. They feel nervous because of a fear of messing up and embarrassing themselves. This is normal. However, in some cases, that nervousness, those butterflies and the fear of embarrassment, can be so terrifying that it completely…
What It Is and How It Can Reduce Stress It just takes five minutes a day. But what is mindfulness? You know how it is: Get up at the crack of dawn, make breakfasts and lunches, get the kids dressed and ready, shower, shuttle everyone to school, and you’re doing all of this while thinking…
16 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Stress by Erika M. Krueger, MFT According to the American Psychological Association, stress in America is on the rise. In 2010, 73% of parents surveyed reported family “responsibilities” to be the number one reason for stress in their lives. Thirty-two percent of parents reported their individual stress to be…
Santa’s Tips for a Stress-Free Holiday Season by Santa Claus and Ken Goodman, LCSW If anyone knows how stressful the holiday season can be, it’s Santa Claus. I’ve often wondered how he’s able to keep his cool when things heat up at the North Pole. I recently interviewed Santa and asked him how he handles holiday stress….