September 2, 2014
by Marti Wormuth, MA
One terrifying and debilitating thing that many people have to deal with are panic attacks. There are a number of people throughout the world who are diagnosed with panic disorders, and may have to deal with the negative effects of panic attacks on a regular basis as a result of the disorder. Other people may have panic attacks as a side effect of a disorder, like anxiety or depression, because they are unable to deal with extreme amounts of stress; these people don't necessarily have a panic disorder, but suffer from the same sorts of panic attacks that those with disorders have to deal with too.
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August 30, 2014
by Cathy England, MA
The United States is currently involved in a number of combat situations in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is increasing awareness among researchers and mental health professionals that there are a number of health and mental health problems that returning veterans are experiencing in their return from combat. Many returning veterans are presenting to medical professionals with emotional distress that is primarily being attributed to their experiences in these violent situations. Researchers are beginning to analyze what this means for this demographic, and how to best assist them in navigating the difficulties that they are experiencing.
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August 27, 2014
by Cathy England, MA
Anxiety is a common mental health concern. It is defined by Endler (1997), as being an emotion that is driven by fear. Anxiety can interfere with a person’s ability to function in daily activities, and can become so invasive in their lives that they may be unable to deal with work or school. When anxiety becomes this much of a problem, it is important to have strategies to decrease the anxiety.
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Many of us have heard someone say they “are OCD”. We may have also told someone, “You are so OCD!” Some people do, in fact, have minor characteristics of OCD. They like things tidy, or they like to do things in a certain order and in a particular way. But clinical Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can be a serious, even debilitating, mental illness for both adults and children. It can create significant distress, and interfere with daily functioning. People with severe symptoms of OCD may find it difficult to work, go to school, or carry out other daily activities.
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August 24, 2014
by Marti Wormuth, MA
Social anxiety is becoming more and more common in today's world. Every year, millions of people struggle with anxiety disorders and they try to work through them on their own. Social anxiety, or social phobia, is "a strong fear of being judged by others and of being embarrassed. This fear can be so strong that it gets in the way of going to work or school or doing other everyday things.
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“I’m so confused”! Many of the clients I see come to me because they are confused about some aspect of their life. They ask things like: “What should I do?” “Should I stay or should I go?” “Is this person right for me?” These are some of the questions of confusion.
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The title of this article is actually a quote from Lama Surya Das in his book, Awakening the Buddha Within (1997). I was so stuck by the simple wisdom of this statement that I posted it on my computer at work, and my refrigerator at home, as a frequent reminder of the dangers of hanging on to things that are better let go. But letting go of feelings, people or situations that are destructive to us, or out of our control, is easier said than done. We hold on and attach for lots of different reasons, but learning to let go and detach in healthy ways can help restore our sense of peace and our relationships with others.
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August 4, 2014
by Marti Wormuth, MA
Panic attacks are incredibly frightening to people, and if you haven't encountered them before, they can be frightening to you, even if you're just with someone who is having one. In this article, we're going to explore how you can tell if someone is having a panic attack and how you can help them through this frightening thing.
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Our personal lives and our work lives can be filled with tense moments, conflict, and competing demands. Life also delivers ups and downs in the form of job losses, cheating spouses, major illnesses, and death. Being able to manage these difficult times effectively requires skills that anyone can learn. Not only is being unflappable an admirable and beneficial quality in times of crisis, it can also be good for your mental health.
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July 23, 2014
by Cathy England, MA
It is not uncommon for people to experience worry from time to time. This can come in the form of worry over an upcoming deadline, concern about a sick loved one, or stress about a financial situation. For most people, that type of worry is time limited and is affected or brought on by a specific situation. In other words in typical instances, the person can identify the reason for their anxiety.
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