Stress vs. Anxiety: What’s the Difference?
Many people think of stress and anxiety as the same thing. There are important differences, however. Understanding them can help you if you’re experiencing stress or anxiety.
Excessive Hand Washing: How Much Is Too Much?
It used to be easier to determine how much hand washing was excessive — but the COVID pandemic changed that. So what makes sense now? In the early months of COVID in the United States, health authorities constantly reminded the public to wash their hands often, and well. Indeed, the CDC still reminds us that…
5 Myths You Need to Know About Intrusive Thoughts
Intrusive thoughts about violence, one’s sexual orientation, gender, and other topics can lead to severe anxiety. Learn about common myths that can actually make intrusive thoughts worse. “Intrusive thoughts” are thoughts or images that a person experiences as unwanted. Intrusive thoughts are normal and unproblematic for most people. However, when experienced frequently, these thoughts can…
Avoidance: There’s No Escaping Its Importance to Anxiety
Sometimes we all skip out on things we don’t like. How is that relevant to anxiety? Very! Learn why avoidance may be the most important thing you’re overlooking to improve your anxiety. Why Is Avoidance So Important? We all try to get more of the things we like and less of the things we don’t.…
Is My Boyfriend Gay? Or Is It My Anxiety?
It’s not uncommon to have a passing thought about your boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s sexual orientation. If questions like “is my boyfriend gay” take over, it may be a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder. It’s natural to have doubts sometimes about our romantic relationships. It happens all the time. But what if you can’t stop trying to…
Compulsive vs. Impulsive: How to Know the Difference
A behavior is compulsive when you have the urge to do it repeatedly — until a feeling of anxiety or unease goes away. A behavior is impulsive when you do it without forethought and without considering the consequences.
Negative Reinforcement: How You Accidentally Worsen Your Anxiety
Negative reinforcement plays an important role in anxiety and related problems. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety, panic attacks, and other related disorders can all be worsened by it. So what is negative reinforcement?
POCD Arousal: What Does It Mean?
Sexual arousal can feel terrifying when it happens in the context of POCD. Learn how to understand this nuanced phenomenon. Updated: August 28, 2023 What is POCD? Pedophilic obsessive-compulsive disorder (POCD) is a term used for obsessive-compulsive disorder when the primary symptom is obsessions around pedophilia.
Is it POCD or Denial? Will You Really Ever Know For Sure?
It’s one thing to be told you have POCD. It’s another to feel comfortable that your fears are “just OCD.” So is it POCD, or could you be a pedophile in denial? What Is POCD? POCD stands for pedophilic obsessive compulsive disorder. It’s not a separate condition from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, the isolating and…
What is ERP Therapy? And What is ExRP Therapy?
ERP therapy (exposure and response prevention) and ExRP (exposure and ritual prevention) are psychotherapies used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). ERP was pioneered in the 1960s by British psychologist Vic Meyer. Edna Foa and her colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania further developed it and gave ERP its name in the 1970s and 1980s.
Do You Need to Confess All the Time? It Could Be OCD
Updated: August 17, 2023 OCD and Confessing A rarely discussed symptom of OCD is an overwhelming need to confess “sins,” even when the transgressions are very slight. Typically this will arise in the context of a marriage or romantic relationship. At first, what is confessed may not seem so minor. However, if the problem is not addressed,…
How to Find the Right Psychotherapy for You in NYC
Deciding to seek help is a big first step. From there, it’s important to find the right therapist. But with so many psychotherapy options in New York, how can you know what to look for? Last updated: December 19, 2021 The best therapist for you has the appropriate training and expertise to treat the issues…