Health-Related Anxiety: Symptoms, Disorders, & Treatment

On September 9, 2011, in Health Anxiety, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Think about the most significant health scare you have ever experienced. Then multiply this experience by a factor of about 10. Unfortunately, this is a daily reality for many individuals suffering from health-related anxiety, a debilitating condition that can have devastating effects on one’s mood, relationships, and ability to function in academic and professional …  (read more)

Symptoms of Depression / Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

On August 19, 2011, in Depression, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Signs of depression can be obvious or subtle, but regardless, they often severely impact your quality of life.  For help in addressing your symptoms of depression, seek the assistance of a therapist or psychologist trained in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is an evidence-based treatment for depression. This will help reduce your symptoms …  (read more)

Depression / Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): The (Sometimes) Hidden Ailment

On August 18, 2011, in Depression, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

For some individuals with major depressive disorder, signs of depression can be pretty obvious. Depressive symptoms can be utterly disabling and leave you with very little hope that things will ever get better. Depression can make you feel like giving up or actually cause you to give up. But in other cases, depression …  (read more)

School Refusal Causes (Social & Anxiety-Related Factors)

On August 16, 2011, in School Refusal, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

With the summer quickly fading to black and the academic year looming largely, we will soon be entering the season of school refusal. When I use the term “school refusal,” I’m not talking about that once-in-a-blue-moon occasion when a child forgets about an important test or project and decides it’s easier to feign illness …  (read more)

Test Anxiety Treatment & Diagnostic Considerations

On August 6, 2011, in Test Anxiety, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

When considering treatment for test-taking anxiety, make sure that you have a comprehensive diagnostic assessment to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms.  Not all cases of test anxiety are alike, and sometimes symptoms of test anxiety actually reflect a separate, underlying condition.  If you’re located in South Florida (Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, …  (read more)

“Pure-O” OCD: Common Obsessions & Mental Rituals

On August 3, 2011, in OCD, “Pure-O” Symptoms, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

As a follow-up to my previous post on Pure-O OCD, I thought it might be helpful to identify some obsessions that are commonly reported by individuals with Pure Obsessional OCD.  These same obsessions may also be experienced by individuals with non-Pure-O forms of the disorder.  Keep in mind that some of these symptoms are quite …  (read more)

To tweet or not to tweet (aka, keeping private things private in the Facebook/Twitter era)

On July 14, 2011, in General, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Social media tools like Facebook and Twitter are poised to revolutionize healthcare. Social media sites can be useful for quickly disseminating health-related information and giving users a place to connect around shared interests. In some cases, online support communities have supplanted the traditional support group model. In other cases, social media tools are actually being …  (read more)

OCD and DSM-V: Taking the “anxiety” out of OCD

On May 16, 2011, in OCD, OCD - General, by Steven J. Seay, Ph.D.

Psychiatrists and psychologists continue to debate the fundamental nature of OCD, trying to decide whether or not OCD should continue to be classified as an “anxiety disorder.”  In some ways, OCD overlaps with other anxiety-related conditions, such as panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). …  (read more)

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