Anxiety plays a troubling trick on us. We’re often so anxious about all the things we need to do that the only means of relieving the anxiety seems to be getting everything done. But as I discuss in-depth in my book Overcoming Anxiety Worry and Fear, everything is never done. From cleaning the house to finishing up a day’s work tasks, there will be more of the same tomorrow, the next day, and the day after that. The only means of realizing relief is to make the time throughout the day, every day, to relax amidst the tasks that will … Continue reading →

My line of work keeps me tuned in to anxiety. So does my home life. So when I come across information about anxiety I like to share. Let’s face it – even without a “formal” diagnosis of anxiety most of us experience it on some level at regular intervals. It only becomes a diagnosable condition when it negatively impacts functioning. Keeping it from becoming something that impacts your daily living can be work though. So today I saw an article about managing anxiety that jumped out at me. The article was about planning “worry time”. The basic concept is to … Continue reading →

Much of the fear that fuels our anxiety is based in fiction – false truths that have no basis in reality. From a fear of public speaking, to a fear of leaving the house, our level of anxiety is distorted in relation to the actual potential for danger. These are familiar behaviors that start in childhood – that fear of the monster in the closet or under the bed. You may not be able to see it or hear it, but you believe it is there. The child’s response is to shrink in fear: “If I’m quiet enough and still … Continue reading →

It is pretty much common thinking in the mental health world that those with anxiety and/or depression can get into a perpetual cycle of negative thinking. This negative thinking only makes the anxiety or depression worse, but reinforcing itself over and over. An example: say a young woman is very anxious about a business meeting coming up where she has to present information. She worries about this so much that she starts to envision multiple ways she can fail. When giving the presentation one of her co-workers yawns. She assume her presentation is going horrible and becomes very jittery and … Continue reading →

This month it will be 7 years since we lost my stepdad to lung cancer. I remember the 9 months from diagnosis to death like it happened just last year. All of the unknowns along with the tests and treatments created a lot of anxiety for all of us. My stepdad wanted to be strong and put on a good face for me, my mom, and his two granddaughters, but it was evident that he was struggling with anxiety as we all were. The treatment for cancer is bad; the waiting to find out if the treatment worked is worse. … Continue reading →

As my full time job requires I have a good understanding of community standards I try and keep up with what community centers are offering around the US. What centers accept Medicare, have sliding fee schedules, or provide outreach are things I keep an eye out for. These centers often provide great services to all via their websites, so they are good resources. In one of my recent quests I came across a center in Montclair, NJ. I don’t know anything about the center itself, but they had a great article in the “Montclair Patch” about children/teens with anxiety. My … Continue reading →

My 18 year old daughter just graduated from high school. As we sat and discussed all of the plans for the weekend something jumped out at me: the anxiety she had been dealing with through her teen years was not getting better, and the impact on her day-to-day functioning was going to get worse. I have been noticing symptoms of anxiety in her for years, and spoke openly with her about options. However, as someone who spent years working with adolescents with serious emotional problems, I was leery to start her on medications before she became an adult. I wondered … Continue reading →