Anxiety

Anxiety is a mental health condition. One of the symptoms of anxiety for many people, however, is fear over the person’s health. Anxiety causes such a wide variety of physical symptoms related to the heart – such as a rapid heartrate, trouble breathing, and lightheadedness – that it’s easy to understand why so many people have heart-related anxieties develop. Rest assured, your heart is designed to handle this. While everyone’s individual heart health may vary,…

The last post we made spoke about how and why addressing our phobias is important, even if it’s a phobia of something we do not often encounter. Today, let’s expand on the ways that phobias can affect our long and short term mental health. Let’s talk for a moment about social anxiety. Social anxiety is, itself, often considered a phobia. It is often referred to as “social phobia,” though it is sometimes treated differently than…

Phobias are a form of anxiety where a specific “thing,” called a stimuli, results in significant and extreme anxiety. For example, a person could have “Acrophobia,” which is a fear of heights. Or they could have “arachnophobia,” which is a fear of spiders. A person experiences a phobia when there is a specific living thing, item, event, or situation that causes them this fear. These anxiety responses can be intense – so much so that…

Panic disorder can be overwhelming, leaving those who experience it feeling frightened and confused by the sudden and intense physical and emotional symptoms. Panic attacks are also unique in that they are very physical and difficult to understand. While panic attacks can be brought on by extreme stress during major life events, many times they appear to be first triggered by almost nothing at all. While environmental factors and personal experiences often contribute to the…

We’re entering holiday season, and that means that many of us are going to see family that we either haven’t seen all year, or have not seen in such a group setting. In some cases, these may be individuals we haven’t seen in *years* and in other cases it may be the only time that an entire family is located in the same place at the same time with nowhere else to go. We were…

Work stress is a pervasive issue that affects professionals across industries. From high-pressure deadlines to interpersonal conflicts, work-related stressors can lead to significant physical and mental health concerns if left untreated. While many individuals may believe that stress is simply a part of professional life, prolonged and unaddressed work stress can negatively impact job performance, personal relationships, and overall well-being. Working with a psychotherapist can provide effective tools and strategies to manage and alleviate work-related…

We’re witnessing an epidemic of division in America, one that’s grown rapidly since the 2016 election and continues to snowball. This intense polarization affects all aspects of life, but it’s especially harmful to our mental health. In psychological terms, “polarization” describes when beliefs become more extreme after discussion. Think about that: after we debate a point, we’re often more entrenched in our stance, even when it’s unhealthy. The constant divisive rhetoric we’ve seen since 2016,…

Anxiety encompasses a range of mental health conditions characterized by excessive worry, fear, and apprehension. These feelings often lead to physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, and feelings of restlessness. For many, anxiety can significantly hinder daily functioning, affecting personal, social, and professional life. At its core, anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, serving as a warning system for potential threats. However, when these feelings become overwhelming and persistent, they may evolve…

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a widely acknowledged psychological treatment that has proven effective in managing various mental health conditions, including panic attacks. Panic attacks are sudden, intense surges of fear or discomfort that can feel overwhelming and debilitating. They are often accompanied by physical symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, trembling, or shortness of breath, which can contribute to the distress experienced during an episode. At Long Island Counseling Services, our therapists often choose to…