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.
We all try to get more of the things we like and less of the things we don’t. People of any age do this, and so do animals — it’s universal.
[Read more…]There are few things more unpleasant than a panic attack. Getting one to stop can be complicated, but the strategies presented below can help.
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?
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?
The best therapist for you has the appropriate training and expertise to treat the issues you want to work on.
When to seek therapy: It can be difficult to decide if and when psychotherapy would be helpful. A general guideline that we recommend is called the interference rule: if a problem is significantly interfering in your ability to live your life in the way you’d like, then psychotherapy may be helpful.
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Alyssa is a high school senior and member of her school’s cheerleading team. She has never had a panic attack. When lifted into the air by her teammates during practice one day, she suddenly feels very dizzy. She fears that she is going to crash to the ground. She yells to her teammates to put her down. When they do, Alyssa begins shaking, hyperventilating, and notices her heart is racing. She tells her coach she thinks there is something wrong with her and runs, terrified, to the nurse’s office. After about ten minutes, she feels better and returns to her team. However, she refuses to be lifted into the air again.
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