Many people think that people with agoraphobia can’t leave their house and are afraid of ‘the outside’. In fact, agoraphobia is much more nuanced and broad, with approximately 1.5% of people worldwide meeting criteria for its diagnosis. What to know about agoraphobia: While it is now its own diagnosis as of DSM-V-TR, it is helpful…
Read MoreI was out for a walk with my family when I saw a bumper sticker: “Don’t believe everything your brain tells you.” Interestingly when I did an internet search, this phrase came up repeatedly in regards to cognitive psychology and perception and sensation. Our brain actually fills in many gaps in visual processing: our eye projects…
Read MoreThe fear of vomiting, or emetophobia is one of the most often treated phobias at the OC Anxiety Center. Many people are surprised by its frequency and its devastating effects. It stops people from attending work and school, makes people avoid driving and traveling, and prevents individuals from attending social gatherings. Its affects can vary…
Read More“I need to be control of things.” “I have to make sure I have all my bases covered all the time.” “My gut is telling me that’s a bad idea.” “If that goes wrong, it’ll be horrible.” Everyday we walk around with underlying belief systems that affect how we behave, whether we are…
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 MoreAt our office, your first appointment will involve an in-depth intake session where we’ll go over various symptoms you experience. After reviewing the material, your psychologist will have formulated a diagnosis that fits your symptoms in the current moment. Why do we do this? Isn’t a diagnosis just a label? Does it really matter? When…
Read MoreMy five year-old is in a phase of being afraid of monsters in his room (conveniently only when he has to put away his laundry, but that’s another matter). He wants his mom or dad to go with him upstairs…
Read MoreIt’s flu season, which means for us it’s also emetophobia season. Typically around this time is when we see an influx of patients who have a fear of vomiting. Often it’s school-aged kids, but not infrequently we have adults with this issue…
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 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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