It’s understandable that people who struggle with food, exercise or body image might want to steer clear of considering their body as a pathway to finding peace with food, exercise and body image. Why go to the source if that’s where the battleground continues to wage war? Coping Mechanisms as Breadcrumbs to Deeper Hungers When…
There is an increasing number of people struggling to make it through the workday. Mental health struggles are on the rise, and anxiety and depression are front-and-center for many. It can feel like your mind won’t stop racing as you try to grasp a single thought. Or you feel like you’re trudging through molasses as…
It’s officially 2023, and this means it’s time for New Year’s resolutions. As a goal-oriented therapist, I am all for setting goals for yourself if that’s what you want to do, growth is great! But so many people feel a sense of obligation and expectation to make the new year into something SO special and…
One of the most common questions I get is “what are some good exposures for ___ OCD?” People really resonate with the subtypes of OCD, like contamination OCD, relationship OCD, sexual orientation OCD, pure O, and the list goes on and on. While subtypes exist to provide basic clinical information and to establish a sense…
Being an OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)/anxiety specialist and also the mom of a toddler has been an interesting experience to say the least. There have been plenty of times when my 5 year old, Eli, engaged in full on obsessive-compulsive behaviors. First, it was Eli lining up his toy cars and trucks in an absolute, straight…
If you have OCD, anxiety, fear, or panic, chances are, you’re ruminating. For a mental compulsion and safety behavior that quite literally affects everyone with these conditions, it’s surprising to me that some people are still unaware of what rumination is. Rumination, to some professionals, more generally describes any kind of mental engagement with a…
Many of us think we suffer from anxiety. What we really suffer from is our thoughts about people, events, conversations, and problems; not the actual things themselves. The Greek stoic philosopher Epictetus tells us “What upsets people is not things themselves, but their judgement about these things”. Most of our worry comes from the anticipation…
People-pleasing can be a difficult habit to break. It can be helpful to remember that pleasing others does not necessarily mean sacrificing your own needs and wants. It is important to create a balance between fulfilling the needs of others and also taking care of yourself. It can be beneficial to take some time to…
My husband likes to joke that there is no such thing as the right man, because if he was right, he’d be a woman. But of course, it’s not that easy, and I know how much pain and heartache lie underneath this question. You want to experience real connection and unwavering commitment, and you want…
The coexistence of two or more disorders is referred to as co-occurring disorders. It occurs, in other words, when one mental disorder causes another to develop. Despite the paucity of data on co-occurring illnesses’ treatment, it’s likely that alternatives will include medication and/or counseling. The phrase “co-occurring” denotes the presence of a different disorder in…