Is What I have OCD?OCD takes many shapes, and it takes a skilled therapist to properly diagnose OCD.  Clients come to me who have OCD symptoms that don’t fit into the types of OCD people recognize; namely hand washing, or “being very neat”.  In reality OCD is much more complex and multifaceted.  I put together … Continued

It’s the middle of the night, and everyone is asleep but you.  The later it gets, the more taboo your thoughts become, taking you to a place only accessible in this late, quiet hour.  You begin to think about death. You might, at first, fear the death of your parents, pre-grieving them.  You might even … Continued

Hello dearest Panic Disorder sufferers!  Today I wanted to talk to you about an interesting kind of phobia.  We all know about common phobias such as spiders, dogs, germs, etc.  Now let’s talk about a fear that most of us with panic attacks know well; the fear of body sensations. You may not know this, … Continued

Today I’d like to tell you a story of therapy.  The story started three years ago when I met Gerald who found me online and came to me in tears.  (All names and details of this story have been changed to protect confidentiality.) Gerald was a single 32 year old man living in Los Angeles.   … Continued

If You Have Obsessional OCD, Then You Experience Scary OCD Thoughts They are intrusive, scary, annoying at the very least.  They come out of nowhere and make you feel crazy.  For some people they are debilitating.  Here is what some OCD thoughts sound like: You really feel like you have to jump off this building, … Continued

What is PTSD? PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is characterized by the following symptoms: Repetitive thoughts and memories related to a traumatic event Recollections are intrusive, meaning you try not to think about them but can’t help it. Recurring dreams about the traumatic event Nightmares might be about the event specifically almost like a flashback, … Continued

Social anxiety is something that everyone experiences at some point. We feel tense and nervous around other people, especially those we are trying to impress. We feel pressure to be interesting and likable. We get tongue tied, and endure awkward silences. All of this is normal and universal. Many people are labeled as being “shy”. … Continued

Individuals with Panic Disorder experience recurrent, unexpected panic attacks. A Panic Attack is a segment of time in which all or some of the following symptoms happen: Heart palpitations Pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate Sweating, trembling or shaking Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering Feeling of choking Chest pain or discomfort Nausea or abdominal … Continued

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is made up of two components: obsessions and the compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive anxiety provoking thoughts that are repetitive, and create tremendous anxiety. They are involuntary thoughts, and feelings. Obsessions are a result of a core fear.  Some common examples of debilitating fears: Germs Bugs Going crazy Infidelity Losing Control Bad things … Continued

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by the following symptoms: muscle tension constant worry and tension fatigue restlessness difficulty falling or staying asleep difficulty concentrating irritability edginess gastrointestinal discomfort or diarrhea Sufferers of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) tend to become very anxious in multiple domains of their lives such as school, work, relationships, day to day activities, … Continued