Archives for February 2014

It’s a hectic world out there. With deadlines to meet, bills to pay and loved ones to care for, some level of concern is natural. Unfortunately, when a normal response to the stresses of life takes on a life of its own, you could be dealing with anxiety disorder.

Debilitating apprehension normally takes one of five distinct forms. These include:

– Generalized anxiety disorder. Affecting nearly 7 million people in the U.S.A. alone, GAD’s free-floating sense of foreboding can affect nearly every aspect of daily living.

– Obsessive-compulsive disorder. In a subconscious attempt to deal with underlying anxieties, sufferers of OCD feel compelled to perform meaningless repetitive actions or senseless rituals.

– Post-traumatic stress disorder. This common complaint of war-zone veterans can affect anyone who has undergone a traumatic life experience. PTSD symptoms include frightening flashbacks, exaggerated startle reactions and a general loss of interest in life.

– Panic disorder. Unexpected episodes of rapid heartbeat, vertigo, sweating palms and a sense of impending doom characterize this often-crippling form of anxiety disorder. Desperate to avoid potential triggers, many sufferers become housebound.

– Social phobia. This disorder results when a fear of being constantly judged morphs from a dread of group events to an eventual avoidance of all social contact.

The good news is that no one needs to suffer. Anxiety disorders are treatable, and a qualified Queens NY therapist can help. With a bit of the proper attention, you might just get your life back.

Is your child’s activity level spinning out of control? Maybe your husband’s temper tends to run off the rails, or you, yourself, might find it difficult to concentrate on what someone is trying to tell you.

If anything like this sounds familiar, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder could be to blame. Better known as ADHD, this condition adversely affects behavior by shortening attention spans and taking the brakes off impulse control.

In recent years, its incidence has continued to climb. As of 2011, at least 6.4 million children in the United States had received the diagnosis. The prevalence varies by region, but according to the Centers for Disease Control, it measures 7 percent or higher in every state but Nevada.

Neuropsychological Testing, ADHD-Style
The condition is responsible for inciting a wide range of behaviors. Fortunately, there are tests to determine whether your or a loved one does or does not suffer from ADHD. When symptoms can very so widely, these evaluation methods must be of sufficient scope to permit an accurate diagnosis. The most useful ones will assess an individual’s:

• Sensory processing ability
• Cognitive skills
• Academic performance
• Emotional maturity

In addition to measuring the severity of the symptoms, structured testing methods will evaluate when they began, how long they’ve existed and under what circumstances they usually appear.

The Symptoms of ADHD in Children
When children can’t sit still, follow instructions or refrain from making left-field comments at inappropriate times, it’s easy to believe that their parents are to blame. What people often fail to understand is that many of these children have little control over their behavior. ADHD has taken it away.

In addition to an inability to relax or play quietly with other children, children with ADHD will often tend to engage in:

• Excessive talking
• Impulsive behavior
• Squirming, fidgeting or jumping entirely out of their seats
• Sudden outbursts of temper

However, this is not always the case. Some children with ADHD have no problem sitting still. Instead, their disorder manifests as an inability to pay attention. These children will:

• Be easily distracted
• Have problems getting organized or finishing what they start
• Tend to misplace their possessions
• Find it difficult to comprehend what others are saying

Symptoms of ADHD in Adults
Contrary to popular belief, ADHD is not limited to the younger set. The symptoms frequently continue beyond the age of 17. Adults who have never received a diagnosis often fail to recognize that their problems with organizational skills, punctuality and anger management can indeed be symptomatic. However, ADHD usually originates in youth. Anyone who exhibits these symptoms after attaining majority will likely have experienced them since childhood.

Experts suspect adult ADHD in patients who:

• Struggle with organizational tasks
• Drive recklessly
• Experience marital difficulties
• Cannot concentrate in noisy surroundings
• Find it difficult to listen
• Often feel tense and unable to relax
• Are incapable of prioritization
• Have a quick temper
• Tend to procrastinate

Is it ADHD or Something Else?
Are these symptoms always indicative of ADHD? Only a professional can make that determination. With careful and accurate neuropsychological testing, ADHD can be more accurately diagnosed. If you think that you or someone you love is acting inappropriately, these tests will assist in determining whether the behavior is or is not normal.

Don’t Lose Hope
Always keep in mind that ADHD sufferers are often extremely imaginative, flexible and beloved for their enthusiastic and spontaneous personalities. Their wide range of interests can fascinate others, and their energy and drive frequently inspire those around them.

For sufferers, however, the experience is not as pleasant. They often yearn for relief, and an accurate diagnosis can be the first step toward obtaining it. Contact us to learn more about ADHD testing. Thanks to the availability of modern medical and behavioral therapies, this condition doesn’t have to cramp anyone’s style.

Everyone gets lonely or feels anxious at one time or another. But when loneliness or anxiety threaten to take over, it’s time to do something about it.

Loneliness seems easy enough to fix, until you’re the one suffering from it. Even if you have plenty of friends and social contact, it’s still easy to feel lonely. Loneliness isn’t necessarily the absence of human contact–it’s depression caused by feeling that we aren’t being heard, understood, and appreciated.

To deal with this feeling, you must first learn to like yourself. If you like yourself, it’s easier to deal with being alone, to not depend on others for your sense of identity and self-worth. Remind yourself frequently of what you like about yourself, and combat those negative internal thoughts that make you need external validation. Liking yourself also makes you more relaxed, which makes it easier to make social connections, which in turn helps combat loneliness and anxiety.

That may sound like a case of “easier said than done,” but with practice, it does get easier. For the positive affirmations, you might benefit from keeping a journal of positive thoughts. Whenever you think of something good about yourself, write it down. Even something as simple as being organized, liking your smile, or being a good neighbor should go on the list. Then when the negative fears start, you can refer to your list of positive attributes.

For both anxiety and loneliness, one of the best remedies is exercise. This doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym: going for a brisk walk, hopping on the stationary bike, or even just doing jumping jacks in your living room can give you the same effect. The key is to get your heart pumping. Aerobic exercise has the unique ability to both stimulate and calm, to relieve depression and anxiety, and to energize and relax you.

There are both chemical and behavioral benefits of exercise. Exercise reduces the amount of stress hormones in your system, and at the same time, it stimulates your body to produce endorphins, which are your body’s natural mood elevators. Out with the bad, in with the good: exercise gives you a double-edged mental benefit. On the behavioral side, you’ll feel better physically and feel better about yourself, which enhances your self-image.

If regular aerobic exercise isn’t enough to reduce your anxiety levels, try deep breathing exercises. Breathing exercises are easy to learn and don’t require you to buy any special equipment. It’s can be as easy as forcing yourself to concentrate on your breathing and consciously relaxing your muscles.

Anxiety and loneliness can be treated at home with some of the techniques mentioned above. However, if your symptoms are not improving or if they become worse, you should seek professional help.