Problems I Treat

If you have Panic Disorder you may suffer repeated and sudden attacks of intense terror or apprehension that make you feel like you are dying or going crazy - for no apparent reason. Symptoms can include racing heart, hyperventilation, chest pain or discomfort, lightheadedness, numbness or tingling in limbs, feelings of unreality, stomach or bowel symptoms, sweating, trembling or choking.

When panic attacks lead to significant avoidance, Agoraphobia may develop, in which you fear having a panic attack in a place or situation from which escape might by difficult or embarrassing. These situations include crowds, certain buildings, being alone, being far from home or a trusted person, or traveling by car, bus or airplane.

If you have a Specific Phobia you may suffer from an intense fear reaction to a specific object or situation, such as spiders, dogs, heights, water, blood, air travel, or closed spaces. You recognize that your level of fear is irrationally inappropriate to the situation. Such intense fear can lead to the avoidance of common, everyday situations, and can interfere with your life.

People with Medical Phobias suffer from fear of blood, injections, doctors and dentists, and medical procedures. The anxiety they experience may keep them from attending doctor or dentist appointments, having blood work done, visiting hospitals, getting flu shots or other inoculations, or donating blood. They may also avoid pursuing pregnancy or careers in medicine, nursing, etc. Fainting is a common feature of these phobias.

If you are struggling with Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder) you may have become excessively self-conscious and experience persistent, strong desires to avoid one or more situations involving social interactions. Commonly feared situations include public speaking, meeting new people, writing or performing in front of others, being at parties, asking for dates, speaking to people in authority, eating in public, having conversations, talking on the phone, using public restrooms or disagreeing with others. People with social phobias worry about being judged by others or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or ridicule. Physical symptoms such as blushing, shaking or sweating can increase the fear of humiliation or embarrassment.

If you have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) you are plagued by intrusive, persistent and recurring thoughts, images or impulses (obsessions) that may seem senseless or distasteful. Typical obsessional topics concern disease, dirt, disorder, sex, religion or violence. These unwanted thoughts may lead to performing a ritual or routine (compulsions) to reduce the distress caused by the obsession. Common compulsions include repetitive hand washing, excessive cleaning and arranging, checking door locks and other objects, ritualistic counting, repeating phrases, and rereading.

If you worry all the time, you may suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder. In this condition, people experience excessive, unrealistic worry that often feels uncontrollable. The constant worry may focus on many topics such as financial problems, loved ones, school, career, health, etc. This worrying leads to a number of unpleasant symptoms including restlessness, fatigue, problems with concentration, insomnia, muscle tension, irritability, and abdominal upset.

If Health Anxiety (also known as Hypochondriasis) is a problem, you suffer from fears about being seriously ill, or even terminally ill, when no symptoms of serious illness exist. You may misinterpret normal bodily sensations or physical symptoms as being dangerous and life threatening. Reassurance from friends, family, medical tests or health care professionals may provide temporary relief, but the fears return anyway. You may make many unnecessary visits to the doctor or undergo unnecessary medical testing and procedures, or even avoid contact with health care providers for fear that you will receive bad news.

Trichotillomania is the recurrent pulling out of one's hair, resulting in noticeable hair loss. Hair might be pulled from the scalp, eyebrows or eyelashes, among other areas. If you have “trich,” you may or may not experience strong urges to pull, which you cannot resist. Episodes are followed by such feelings as gratification, relaxation, relief, guilt, shame or depression. You may avoid activities that you fear will reveal your hair loss or go to great lengths to conceal bald spots, using scarves, wigs, makeup, clothing, etc.

Other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB's) include compulsive skin picking (Dermatillomania), compulsive nail biting, biting the insides of the cheeks, lip picking, blemish squeezing, nose picking, etc. Although lightly regarded as “nervous habits” by many, they can have serious negative impact upon sufferers, such as intense shame, depression and social isolation.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is characterized by having a distorted perception of one's appearance, leading to agonizing shame and despair. It is generally diagnosed if you are extremely critical of your physique or body-image, despite the fact there may be no noticeable disfigurement or defect. If you suffer from BDD, you may anxiously focus upon monitoring and hiding the aspect of appearance (e.g. skin, hair, nose) that you view as ugly. This can lead to social avoidance, compulsive reassurance seeking, unnecessary surgeries, etc.

Insomnia is one of the more troubling experiences for depressed or anxious patients. If you have problems falling or staying asleep, or experience non-restorative sleep that occurs on a regular or frequent basis, you may have Chronic Insomnia. Insomnia can affect not only your energy level and mood, but also health. Fortunately, a course of CBT, without the use of drugs, can be quite effective in controlling insomnia problems.

For more information on these problem areas, refer to my list of recommended books or links to some helpful websites.

You can learn about additional problems I help people resolve by clicking here.