Relationship Problems
We naturally are social creatures and enjoy the company of others. However, we may experience recurring difficulty when it comes to getting along with others, including co-workers, bosses, friends, family and lovers. For some, creating relationships in the first place is a problem. Shyness and feelings of anxiety or awkwardness prevent some from meeting new…
Read MorePublic Speaking and Performance Anxiety
Being in front of an audience and giving a talk, speech or presentation, or performing an activity such as singing, dancing, playing an instrument and even participating in a sport can cause debilitating anxiety as well as intense bodily symptoms—i.e. pounding and racing heart, sweating, shortness of breath, nausea and even vomiting and diarrhea. The…
Read MorePhobias
Fears that are very specific to one situation are called specific phobias. Examples include heights, insects, animals, storms, blood, needles and enclosed spaces. Specific phobias are one of the most common anxiety disorders, though they typically don’t pose enough of a problem for people to seek treatment. That’s because people can usually continue to avoid…
Read MoreObsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive thoughts are best characterized as persistent and unwanted thoughts, images or impulses that keep coming back despite your effort not to have them. They are often unpleasant, distasteful or even repugnant. They can include thoughts of being contaminated by dirt or germs, of harming loved ones, of unwanted sexual thoughts, or feeling responsible for…
Read MoreLow Self-Esteem
There are numerous reasons why individuals struggle with being assertive. It likely started during childhood. They may have grown up in a household where “children are to be seen and not heard”, where parents may have become angry if children spoke up, or where parents did not demonstrate assertiveness themselves. Ultimately, it’s anxiety and fear…
Read MoreInsomnia
The inability to fall asleep, stay asleep or return to sleep are features of insomnia. The person suffering from insomnia may experience daytime sleepiness, difficulty with focus and concentration, irritability, anxiety or depression. In some cases the insomnia is a factor related to a psychological condition, such as anxiety, worry, stress or depression. It can…
Read MoreHealth Anxiety
Individuals can become preoccupied with very specific health worries, such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, heart disease and others. Fears of getting sick and dying result in overwhelming anxiety and can even lead to panic attacks. These worries can be difficult to control, and typically cause individuals to seek reassurance from doctors and specialists, and possibly undergo…
Read MoreGoing Off of Medication
Fortunately, there are many safe and effective medications for the treatment of anxiety and depression. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (i.e. Paxil, Celexa, Zoloft, Ciprolex, Cymbalta, Luvox and Prozac), benzodiazepines (i.e. Ativan, Lorazepam, Clonazepam, etc.) and other anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications (i.e. Effexor, Remeron and Wellbutrin) are commonly prescribed alone or in combination to manage the…
Read MoreDepression
It is normal to feel sad, down or blue for brief periods. However, when the sadness lasts for days on end or when you lose your interest, desire or motivation for pleasurable activities, you may be experiencing a clinical depression, also known as Major Depressive Disorder. Clinical depression can be a response to major life…
Read MoreAnger Dysregulation
Anger is the emotional response to a perceived threat. Like all emotions, the intensity will vary from mild to severe, as well as infrequent to frequent. When individuals experience severe and frequent episodes of anger they may be demonstrating anger dysregulation, and with that, the possibility of aggressive or violent behaviours. Road rage, acting out,…
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