You’ve probably had the experience of hopping in your car and suddenly you are at home without realizing how you got there. We call this autopilot and it’s kind of a surreal feeling. Rather than taking the autopilot route home could you have: evaluated traffic for a more efficient route? observed the scenery along your…
Read MoreBefore we ease into relaxation mode, lets recap some basic anxiety information. When you feel anxious, it often means there is a perceived danger which leads to a thought/feeling/behavior cycle known as the “3-Component Model”. Relaxation techniques are tools, not solutions Relaxation affects the feeling component (physical or emotional). Remember that relaxation is not a…
Read MoreJust relax. It’s one of those mantras a lot of people with anxiety tell themselves, but is that always the best move? And does it work? If you experience anxiety, you likely perceive things as more dangerous (physically, emotionally, and/or mentally) than the average person. This causes your fight or flight system may “turn on”…
Read MoreWhen you feel anxious it often means that there is a something in your environment that seems dangerous. That something (e.g., object, person, thought, or future event) is called a trigger. Triggers are connected to anxiety, but do not cause anxiety. We know it is not causal because not everyone feels anxious when experiencing the…
Read MoreI worry so much, I worry about my worrying. It sounds ironic, right? But for those who struggle with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), this is likely a familiar sentiment. GAD is often marked by: • Worrying even when everything is going well • When one ‘crisis’ is over, another appears • Because of the worry,…
Read MoreHow often have others told you “If you truly believe that God is in control, then you don’t need to worry”? How many times have you re-read Matthew 6: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…”? And after these experiences how often do you feel like a failure by not living up…
Read More1. You’re not actually going to pass out, have a heart attack or go crazy – it just feels that way. The hallmark of panic disorder is strong physical sensations that may feel like one is having a serious physical problem, such as a heart attack. Often, because of these sensations, people avoid places where…
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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