Stressors in life are a constant: do we think of them as opportunities or problems? This past month Daisy and I completed our recertification process with Assistance Dogs International (ADI) so she can maintain her status as a service animal for another two years. Before we took the Public Access Test (PAT), Daisy and I…
Read MoreWhat’s the difference between Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and psychosis? OCD is characterized by the experience of recurring and often unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors or mental acts that are difficult to resist (compulsions). Psychosis is a clinical state that occurs when individuals have difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is imaginary, which…
Read More**Important book for parents with children who suffer from OCD and Anxiety** If you have not heard of Dr. Eli Lebowitz and the SPACE program, today is your day. I am not associated with this book, but have found the SPACE program to be groundbreaking in helping parents. Many of you have loved…
Read MoreThere isn’t. Doctors want you to get better, not get worse. Ideally professionals are looking at the current research to ascertain and utilize the best treatments available for people. There is no quick fix for anxiety and OCD issues There isn’t a secret that will make someone feel calm and relaxed. Think about weight loss:…
Read MoreVery often during my first interaction with potential patients on the phone, I’ll hear them say something like “I’m sure you’ve never heard this one before” or “I’m really embarrassed, but I’m really scared of…” I can understand the embarrassment and shame of different fears and worries, especially with OCD. However, after years of clinical practice…
Read MoreObsessive Compulsive Disorder can be very frustrating for a number of reasons: No one seems to understand what I’m experiencing My obsessions are embarrassing and I don’t want to tell people what it is. I can’t seem to get rid of the thoughts for very long. It is important to be able to have a…
Read MoreNot unsurprisingly, people with anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders do have real issues just like everyone else: • Relational issues with friends and family members • Work and school stressors • Health and financial concerns What is different for those with anxiety and related disorders, however, can be the inability to differentiate between the issue,…
Read MoreRecently I was at a park in Irvine with my son and observed a group of young boys trying to capture a squirrel. At first they tried running after it, then tempting it with food, and finally designing a trap using leaves, twigs and sand. During this time the boys were excited and swiftly running…
Read More“If you ever become a teacher, do NOT give out lots of homework-I hate homework. Homework is so bad. I have a life, and homework is not fun. If you do have homework make it like Mad-Libs. -Real entry from Dr. Davis’s 7th grade journal Well, I hate to ignore the pleas of my 7th…
Read MoreAs we continue thinking about thinking, let’s examine emotional reasoning: “Thinking something must be true because you “feel” (actually believe) it so strongly, ignoring or discounting evidence to the contrary.” This is a common thinking pattern we often see with phobias. For…
Read MoreThe OC Anxiety Center is primarily known for the treatment of anxiety disorders, and in particular OCD, panic, and specific phobias. While treatment for other anxiety disorders fall well within the realm of OCAC, a number of similarly treated issues are also addressed. Trichotillomania (hair pulling), BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder, the belief that…
Read MoreGetting through school refusal
With the beginning of a new school year, the OC Anxiety Center has seen more children with school refusal come in through our doors. “School refusal” is a general term with a myriad of causes. Is it a fear of embarrassing oneself in front of others, a dislike of academics, a bully at school, or panic disorder? These are just a few possible causes for …
Read MoreA common frustration for many people who have an anxiety disorder is that well-meaning friends, family, and unfortunately even professionals give the advice of “When you get anxious, you just need to relax.” This might be accompanied by suggestions to…
Read MoreThe “new” buzzword in treatment is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), even though it’s been around for decades. Many general providers now list as one of their modalities of treatment as CBT, and when looking for a psychologist a good question is “Are you a cognitive behavioralist?” Note that the question isn’t…
Read MoreWe often hear from our patients, “I’ve seen several psychologists before, but none of them of have been helpful until I started working with the Anxiety Research Center. Why doesn’t everyone do what you are doing?”
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