Scary Thoughts as Costumes: The Illusion of Danger

On October 14, 2012, in Harm-Related Symptoms, OCD, OCD - General, Sexual Symptoms, “Pure-O” Symptoms, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

It’s nearly Halloween, and kids around the country are digging through dusty closets and plundering the aisles of local Halloween shops in search of the perfect costume.

Halloween is the one night of the year when we give ourselves permission to be silly, scary, or fantastical. We can act a little weird, and nobody will …  (read more)

Vomit Phobia – Fear of Vomiting (Emetophobia)

Flu season will be quickly upon us and with it comes an unfortunate increase in the likelihood of experiencing fevers, coughs, runny noses, vomiting, and the like.

Although no one enjoys being sick, this time of year poses particular challenges for individuals suffering from “vomit phobia”, or emetophobia, the fear of throwing up.

The …  (read more)

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) Symptoms

On March 19, 2012, in Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.
Symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a somatoform disorder that closely resembles obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Symptoms of body dysmorphic disorder include excessive concern about perceived physical flaws, defects, or imperfections.

Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder become obsessed with these unwanted aspects of their appearance and perform a variety of …  (read more)

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)

On March 17, 2012, in Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.
What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD)?

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is not formally classified as an anxiety disorder; however, it shares many overlapping features with anxiety disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

In contrast to OCD which typically focuses on specific external feared outcomes, body dysmorphic disorder involves hyper-attention to one or more perceived bodily …  (read more)

Worry & “What If” Questions

On March 5, 2012, in CBT, ERP, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, OCD, OCD - General, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.
Anxiety, Worry, & What If Questions

If you have anxiety, it’s likely that you wrestle with worry and “what if” questions. Many what if questions are easily recognizable and start with the obvious, “What if…?” Others are more subtle and begin with phrases like “How am I ever going to…?”

By definition, what if questions …  (read more)

Starting Exposure Therapy: What’s it Like?

On January 26, 2012, in ERP, OCD, OCD - Treatment, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

For anyone new to exposure-based therapy, such as exposure and response prevention (ERP), there is often much anticipatory anxiety about starting treatment.

“What is it? What will it be like? How bad will it be? Can I handle it? Will I be forced to do things I’m unwilling to do?”

These uncertainties are …  (read more)

Does Non-Avoidance = Exposure? No! Anxiety Disorder Treatment Principles for OCD, Panic, Social Anxiety, & Phobias.

On November 29, 2011, in CBT, ERP, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Anxiety Principle of the Day: Non-Avoidance is not equivalent to exposure.

Although exposure is predicated upon the purposeful non-avoidance of anxiety-related stimuli, non-avoidance of anxiety triggers is not equivalent to exposure.

What is non-avoidance?

I liken non-avoidance to being in a particular place at a particular time. Essentially, it involves being in a situation in …  (read more)

Exposure Therapy’s Most Common Mistake: All Eggs in the Habituation Basket

On November 4, 2011, in CBT, ERP, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Many people have an incomplete understanding of exposure therapy

…be it exposure and response prevention (ERP) for OCD, intentional mistake practice for social anxiety, or interoceptive exposures for panic disorder…

This is true for exposure newbies, seasoned exposure veterans, and even some good CBT therapists.

This limited understanding is based on the following flawed …  (read more)

Palm Beach (South Florida) OCD Support Groups: Adults, Kids, Teens

On October 19, 2011, in OCD, Support Groups, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.
OCD Support Groups – Palm Beach Gardens|Jupiter|West Palm Beach|Florida

Attention all South Florida residents with OCD in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Juno, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Delray Beach, Pompano Beach, Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie, Greenacres, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale.

I am pleased to announce that …  (read more)

Pure-O OCD Rituals: Starting Over, Resetting, & Undoing

On September 12, 2011, in OCD, “Pure-O” Symptoms, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Question: It’s hard to describe this, but I feel like every few days I need to mentally “start over” by doing a variety of mental and behavioral rituals. I don’t want to live like this, but I’m afraid that if I undergo treatment and stop my OCD rituals, I won’t be the same person with  (read more)

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