Anxiety and the College Student
Anxiety comes with the territory in college, and a little is a good thing. After all, it’s what helps spur you to finish that paper, to pay attention to your health and safety, and to show up for class.
Tag Archives: anxiety disorders
Introvert, Shy, Socially Anxious: What’s the Difference?
Not long ago, the introvert was commonly viewed as the sad, lesser flipside of the extrovert. We now know better, recognizing introverts as having unique gifts that enrich not only themselves but society as well. Still, confusion reigns as to what it means to be an introvert, especially because the term is so often used […]
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Reduces Anxiety During Pregnancy
Recent findings from a team of Canadian researchers indicate that a form of change-oriented psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy can help ease the impact of anxiety in pregnant women.
8 Facts About Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders
In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure society, it’s almost impossible not to feel anxious at some point in life. But occasional worry or feeling anxious isn’t the same as suffering from anxiety. Here are eight helpful facts about anxiety and anxiety disorders:
Ritual Prevention Therapy Good Addition to OCD Treatment
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a potentially debilitating mental health condition that centers on unpleasant, repetitive mental fixations, as well as ritualistic behaviors designed to reduce the potency of those fixations. Doctors commonly try to control the symptoms of OCD with antidepressant medications called SSRIs; however, these medications fail to produce an adequate benefit in substantial […]
Complications in Diagnosing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental condition well known for its ability to produce a combination of mental obsessions and compulsive behaviors. Sometimes, mental health professionals have a fairly easy time diagnosing the condition’s presence in their patients. However, certain factors can complicate an OCD diagnosis and create a much more complex picture for doctors. […]
Is Your Teen Suffering From Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, also known as OCD, belongs to a class of mental illnesses called anxiety disorders. People with OCD feel as if bad things will happen unless they go through certain routines. In some patients, these routines and bad feelings can be severe enough to overwhelm their lives. In others, the symptoms are mild. Anxiety […]
Important Distinctions Between OCD and ADHD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two well-known conditions that can significantly alter normal mental function in affected individuals. While the two conditions are distinct, they can produce symptoms that strongly resemble each other in a variety of ways. For this reason, doctors sometimes mistake OCD for ADHD—or vice versa—when making their […]
The Most Common Phobias
Phobias are a kind of anxiety disorder triggered by a specific situation or physical thing. The fear and anxiety that results from contact with a phobia is severe, and may lead sufferers to go to great lengths to avoid their phobias. When people are unable to avoid regular contact with their phobias, it may greatly […]
Anxiety: Not Always a Bad Thing
People who suffer from anxiety sometimes feel as if they are cats in a room full of rocking chairs. We worry about our jobs, our appearance, weight, families and social lives. We want to be as happy and comfortable as our grandparents, yet our grandparents did not face the type and scope of worries that […]
Overprescription of Xanax
Xanax is a common commercial form of alprazolam, a sedative medication that belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. Like other drugs in this class, it achieves its calming effects by altering the way your body uses a naturally occurring chemical known as GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid). Xanax is the most frequently prescribed mental […]
Coping with Panic Attacks
A panic attack is a sudden feeling of intense fear or anxiety that is accompanied by physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, nausea, or dizziness. Panic attacks reach their peak within ten minutes, but they can last hours in extreme cases. Recurrent panic attacks may be associated with psychological conditions such as panic disorder or […]
Exercise: A Healthy and Natural Way to Alleviate, Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression
Considering our fast-paced society and the stress of modern-day living, it’s no wonder that many people struggle with anxiety from time to time. While some doctors will readily prescribe medication to treat the symptoms, not everyone desires a “solution” in the form of a drug. They’d prefer natural or alternative ways to alleviate or at […]
Regular Exercise can be Beneficial for those with Anxiety Problems
Recent research concluded by psychologists suggests exercise can be advantageous to those who suffer from sensitivity to high anxiety, such as those battling depression. Jasper Smits, a psychologist with SMU in Dallas, Texas suggests exercise as a useful option for those with anxiety who may not have the access to methods of treatment that are […]
OCD and Hoarding Expert Panel at EverydayHealth.com
EverydayHealth.com has created an OCD and Hoarding panel in its section on anxiety disorders. They have included a number of experts in the discussion, including Jeff Szymanski, PhD of the International OCD Foundation; Jonathan Abramowitz, PhD, a specialist in the treatment of OCD and Professor of Psychology at the University of North Carolina – Chapel […]
Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Bear Heavy Costs and Often Go Undiagnosed
The strange or quirky behaviors people with obsessive compulsive disorder exhibit may seem like an exaggeration of normal processes, but these behaviors are part of a life-debilitating condition and recognized as an anxiety disorder.
Mental Health Providers Should Promote Exercise for Those with Depression and Anxiety
Exercise is a magic drug for many people with depression and anxiety disorders, and it should be more widely prescribed by mental health care providers, according to researchers who analyzed the results of numerous published studies. “Exercise has been shown to have tremendous benefits for mental health,” says Jasper Smits, director of the Anxiety Research […]
High Blood Lead Linked to Major Depression and Anxiety
Young adults with higher blood lead levels appear more likely to have major depression and panic disorders, even if they their exposure to lead levels are generally considered safe, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Study Examines Preventing Anxiety in Children of Anxious Parents
In a new pilot study, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center attempted to prevent or mitigate anxiety disorders among children of anxious parents. In the investigation, researchers used a family-based program of cognitive behavioral therapy with generally positive results.
Depression, Substance Abuse, and Mental Illness in the Military
By Colin Gilbert A 2007 CBS News story recounted the life of a soldier, Staff Sgt. Daniel Shannon, who had been injured in combat and subsequently suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Shannon was prone to violent outbursts, where he would find himself destroying furniture in fits of rage. Sadly, stories like his are common; […]
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: On-Screen and Off
If you’ve ever watched the show “Monk” starring Tony Shalhoub, you know it’s about a detective who has obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The seven-year-old series was created by David Hoberman, who struggled with OCD as a teenager. According to a poll taken by the Obsessive Compulsion Foundation, people with OCD don’t mind the emphasis on […]
Withdrawal from Antidepressants
When looking to remove yourself from antidepressants like Paxil, Lexapro, or Prozac, you should never quit “cold turkey.” To safely remove yourself from antidepressants, it is important to slowly wean yourself off of them by using smaller and smaller doses. Summer Beretsky wrote a piece for the World of Psychology blog on PsychCentral.com that suggests […]
Children of Anxious Parents More Likely to Develop Anxiety
Anxiety can be a debilitating disposition, especially for children. While children suffering from anxiety are at risk for other complications, little research has been done in the area of anxiety disorders in children who have anxious parents. A new study from Johns Hopkins Children’s Center changes that, offering insight into this phenomenon. Science Daily recently […]
Late-Life Generalized Anxiety Disorder Patients Benefit from Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common demon for older adults and for those suffering with the condition, there is often an increase in physical disability, memory difficulties and a decreased quality of life. Now, Science Daily has reported that older adults with GAD who receive cognitive behavior therapy showed greater improvement on measures of […]