CHRISTINE M. VALENTíN

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Services
    • Individual Play Therapy
    • Family Play Therapy
    • Adult Therapy
    • Parent Support Group
    • Video Counseling
  • Location & Hours
  • Fees & Insurance
  • Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Practices Notice
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Services
    • Individual Play Therapy
    • Family Play Therapy
    • Adult Therapy
    • Parent Support Group
    • Video Counseling
  • Location & Hours
  • Fees & Insurance
  • Blog
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Practices Notice

Do You Suffer from Anxiety?

6/22/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Oxford Dictionary of Psychology defines anxiety as "a state of uneasiness, accompanied by dysphoria and somatic signs and symptoms of tension, focused on apprehension of possible failure, misfortune, or danger." 

​So now you may be thinking to yourself, "What does that all mean and how do I know if I'm suffering from anxiety?" Anxiety is basically the reaction one has to stressful events that can cause a person to feel nervous, tense and/or apprehensive. There is no denying that many of us suffer from some form of anxiety but how it affects our daily lives is what we need to look out for when determining whether or not to get help. 

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to determine whether you should be reaching out for help... 
  • Am I losing sleep at night because I'm spending most of my time worrying about something? 
  • Am I eating significantly less/more because I'm stressed and worried? 
  • Is my social life slowing down due to feelings of fear/danger? 
  • Are people around me expressing their worry about my health and well-being? 
  • Do I find myself thinking about a particular person, event or thing in my life more often than usual? 
  • Am I worried about things that never bothered me before?

​If you answered "Yes" to most of these questions, then you may be suffering from anxiety. One of the first steps you can take is to schedule an appointment with a physician to rule out any medical conditions. Medical conditions like thyroid problems, diabetes, etc., can cause physiological symptoms like heart palpitations, headaches, nausea, etc., thus causing you to feel like you are anxious. Appropriate treatment usually alleviates the anxious feeling.

If medical conditions are not the cause for the anxiety, you should then consider speaking with a therapist. By collaborating with a trained professional, you both can work together to get to the bottom of what is causing the anxiety. For example, are there life changing events that are causing additional stress? Events like a new job, a new relationship, caring for a loved one, etc. can each cause anxiety. The goal of therapy should be to learn strategies and techniques that you can incorporate into your daily routine so as to help reduce the anxiety and/or minimize it's impact on your your ability to function and feel good. 
​
Do you have any questions about anxiety? Maybe you know of some strategies that have worked for you or someone you know? If so,  please share them below. 

0 Comments

What is a Panic Attack?

2/22/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
During my recent research into Panic disorders, I came across an eye-opening statistic by the National Institute of Mental Health. It stated, “Panic disorder affects about 6 million American adults and is twice as common in women as men.” It further went on to explain how panic attacks, a precursor to panic disorders, can begin to appear in late adolescence and early adulthood. As a result, I composed this blog post to answer some basic questions related to panic attacks, especially when someone should consider  getting medical or mental health treatment. 

What is a Panic Attack?
According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) a panic attack is characterized by the abrupt presence of various symptoms which tend to build within a short time frame. A sense of imminent danger or impending doom, along with an urge to escape, can also be characteristic of a panic attack.

How Do I Know if I’m Having a Panic Attack?
Symptoms of a panic attack can cause somatic and/or cognitive reactions. Somatic reactions are generally physical symptoms that usually suggest a medical condition exists. Symptoms like palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, nausea, chest pain, dizziness, etc. are a few examples of the symptoms an individual can experience while having a panic attack.

Cognitive reactions affect the way a person thinks. For example, an individual experiencing a panic attack will often report feeling like they are losing control, a fear of dying or a belief that something disastrous will happen. These reactions are typical of a panic attack especially when they occur in the absence of real danger.

When Should I Seek Treatment?
For some individuals, they may only experience a panic attack once. If, however, you notice you are having recurrent episodes of a panic attack and/or feelings of anxiety,  you should definitely begin by contacting your physician. A medical evaluation can inform you whether there is a medical explanation for the symptoms you are experiencing.

Should your physician report no medical explanation, consulting with a mental health provider should then be considered. A mental health provider like a psychologist, social worker, counselor, etc., can help you identify what may be triggering the attacks and/or whether you have some unresolved or repressed issues that need to be addressed.

Overall, if you have experienced a couple of panic attacks in a relatively short time period, you should consult with your primary care physician and/or mental health care professional. Doing so may help prevent the attacks from turning into a disorder, which can affect your social and/or physical ability to function.

Do you have any thoughts or questions about panic attacks? Please post them below.


0 Comments
    Picture

    Christine M. Valentín

    Welcome to my ​blog where I provide tips on learning how to connect with your child and how to feel more in control of your parenting journey.

    Subscribe to Christine's Free Monthly Blog and Newsletter
    Sign Me Up!

    Archives

    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    August 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    October 2014
    August 2014

    Categories

    All
    Am I Suffering From Anxiety?
    Anxiety
    Anxiety Related To Relationships
    Arguing
    Articulate
    Avoidance
    Being Disliked
    Bonding With My Child
    Burnout
    Caring What Others Think
    Change And Commitment
    Changes In Routine
    Communication
    Compromise
    Confidence
    Confrontation
    Depression
    Disorder
    Emotions
    Fear
    Getting Help
    Helping Someone Who Is Depressed
    Help With My Relationship
    Holiday Anxiety
    Holiday Depression
    Improving Success
    Indecision
    Lack Of Confidence
    Lack Of Support
    Levels Of Anxiety
    Love
    Low Self Esteem
    Low Self-Esteem
    Manage Stress
    Mental Evaluation
    Negative Reactions
    New Year's Resolution
    Panic Attacks
    Panic Disorder
    Parenting
    Playing Games With Children
    Psychological Evaluation
    Relationships
    Respect
    Seeking Therapy
    Self Doubt
    Self-doubt
    Successful Relationships
    Therapy
    Trial And Error
    Trouble Sleeping
    What Is Anxiety?
    What Is Depression
    Worried About My Loved One

    RSS Feed

This Site is not intended to provide psychotherapy advice. The Site is intended only for use by individuals in search of general information of interest pertaining to anxiety, depression and related topics. Content is not intended to replace or serve as substitute for professional consultation or service. Contained observations and opinions should not be misconstrued as specific counseling advice.
Photos used under Creative Commons from soekfoto, Thales, Pawel Pacholec, lisabirtch, Mickey JT, Muffet, apparena, aresauburn™, Minette Layne, die.tine, A Gude, stephcarter, Kathy McGraw, srqpix, sun sand & sea, photogirl7.1, W J (Bill) Harrison, srluke, catlovers