Anxiety

When you come to see me because you are anxious, I will want you to answer in very concrete behavioral terms the following question: "How is your anxiety effecting your ability to lead a full productive life?" Tell me as much as you can about how you feel inside and the turmoil that this is causing. Are there nervous behaviors that occur when you are anxious? Do you have problems with concentration, memory, and an inability to complete tasks? What part of your future are you worried about? Anxiety is almost always future oriented. Unlike fear which is a reaction to a real or perceived immediate threat. Are there times when you ruminate or worry about the same thing? Do you have anticipatory anxiety about certain situations, e.g., speaking in public?
 

I will help you begin to track the ABCs of your anxiety:
1. Antecedent: What triggered the anxiety? First airplane flight was very turbulent.
2. Beliefs & behaviors related to the anxiety. I will experience those fears again, and I cannot go on the plane.
3. Consequences: I either avoid flying or I self-medicate with alcohol to be able to fly on a plane.

I will begin by teaching you simple relaxation exercises to help you with anticipatory anxiety or generalized anxiety. We will reframe your distorted beliefs about flying and use distractions (music, movies) to help you have a successful in-flight experience. We will use systematic desensitization to help you overcome the fear of flying. Make an appointment, and I'll have you flying HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

Acute Stress Reaction

Acute Stress Reaction sometimes also referred to as an acute stress disorder or psychological shock, is a psychological condition that occurs after an individual experiences a traumatic event or is a witness to a traumatic event.  Either actually experiencing the event or witnessing the event results in a sudden and strong emotional and physical reaction.  Examples of an acute stress reaction are: being involved in a terrible automobile accident, involvement in a robbery in a bank, a takeover home invasion, or any situation where the individual perceives/experiences serious injury or death to themselves or someone else.  If Acute Stress Reaction is left untreated it can turn into PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

One who has an Acute Stress Reaction will often experience some type of disassociation, such as feeling numb or detached from emotional reactions.  They will often feel physically detached from themselves, as if they are watching their own bodies and emotional reactions to the event.