In my practice I frequently work with men who experience panic or anxiety. Of course every one experiences anxiety uniquely. However, what I noticed is that men experience anxiety differently than women. In general, men trend toward thinking in categorical terms such as sick/well, strong/weak, right/wrong or win/lose. When applied to the experience of [...]
If you or someone you love struggles with panic attacks, please watch my new video "How to Stop a Panic Attack" https://youtu.be/Ly1JgT0Q8Y8 If you need help with Panic Attacks in the Chicago area, give Dr. Helen Odessky a call at (847)529-8600 to see if she can help.
“Face Your Fears and they’ll never bother you again!” At least--that’s the promise! Except that it does not always work. If you are like many people that I see in my office you may have attempted to face your fears and found that it provides little relief. In fact, sometimes it even makes you more [...]
“Does caffeine cause anxiety?” –I get this question a lot as an anxiety therapist. Often it is a pleading look, asking: “Do you think if I just gave up coffee, my troubles with anxiety will be over?” At other time, it is a pleading voice “Please don’t tell me to give it up-I Love my [...]
Anxiety can affect sleep in several ways. It can be difficult to fall asleep. It can be difficult to get restful sleep and it can be difficult to return to sleep after waking up in the middle of the night. The good news is that there are several strategies that you can use to improve [...]
Choosing a therapist for anxiety treatment can feel like daunting task. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. There are several factors to consider when making your decision. Training Be sure to ask about whether the therapist has specialized training in treating anxiety disorders. Specifically, you want to find a therapist that [...]
If you have social anxiety you may be extremely uncomfortable in social situations and try to avoid them. You may feel intense anxiety about being judged by others and live in fear of doing or saying something shameful or embarrassing. When you do participate socially, it may feel as though there is a spotlight shining [...]
The good news is that anxiety is a treatable problem and good anxiety treatments exist and are more accessible than ever. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy and Exposure Therapy have been empirically validated to help treat various forms of anxiety, including social anxiety, fears and phobias, Panic Disorder and Generalized anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy [...]
“It just comes over me, this feeling of dread and I know what’s about to happen…My heart starts beating so fast it feels like it will jump out of my chest, my palms get sweaty and I feel hot and dizzy. Sometimes it feels like I am going to pass out and that I will [...]
1. Yoga teaches you to breathe-like a baby! Of course you know how to breathe! Did you also know that when we are stressed or anxious we tend to breathe from our chest, rather than taking a full abdominal breath? The result is muscular tension. Breathing from the center of you abdomen, also called “diaphragmatic [...]