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Clinical Focus & Treatments
Panic Attacks
Panic attacks are an overactive fear response – our body goes into fight/flight mode by pumping blood faster and increasing heart rate in order to be able to run away or fight the danger. When this response becomes too strong, or happens even in the apparent absence of danger, this is the sign of an overactive response.
Social Anxiety
The first line of treatment for social anxiety often involves learning social skills and letting go of avoidance behaviors bit by bit. Like building muscle, social skills take time and practice and therapy can be a place to practice safely and get feedback from an understanding person. This approach typically involves taking small steps outside of therapy and facing the very thing that is so scary.
Phobias
A phobia is an intense, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity that poses little or no actual danger. Unlike normal fears, phobias are persistent and often lead to avoidance behaviors that can interfere with daily life. People with phobias often go to great lengths to avoid the thing they fear, even if it’s not a realistic threat. When confronted with the source of their fear, they may experience extreme anxiety, panic attacks, or physical symptoms like sweating, rapid heartbeat, or nausea.
Addictions
There are hundreds of ways to numb out physical and emotional pain, some of the most popular including alcohol, marijuana, other drugs, gambling, food, sex, and pornography. An addiction develops when someone finds themselves unable to stop the problematic substance use or behavior, despite consequences.
Mood Swings
Many of my clients experience anxiety that is primarily associated with rapidly shifting emotions. There is a feeling of instability in relationships, fear of losing their partner, fear of intimacy, and a general crisis of identity. They may have received a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, bipolar 2, or simply depression and anxiety.
