A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

Many children may be adverse to visiting the dentist, especially when such visits involve loud machines or potentially embarrassing braces. But some children exhibit an intense fear of dental care, coupled with poor dental management behavior, an issue recently investigated by a Swedish researcher from the University of Gothenburg. The researcher examined the self-reported thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of kids who had significant dental issues coupled with a related fear, finding that they were more prone to experiencing psychosocial concerns. The children were often found to have parents exhibiting similar fears, suggesting that parental approaches to medical care may greatly impact children’s mental well-being.

© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Philadelphia Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

By Susanne M. Dillmann, Psy.D., Post Traumatic Stress / Trauma Topic Expert Contributor

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Our human relationship with nature is somewhat of an enigma; it seems impossible to decipher whose impact is greater. We are able to tame and sculpt nature, altering it to match our needs. We shift the course of gigantic rivers, upbraid forests and transform arid prairies into green metropolises. Our behaviors deplete the ozone, impact global temperatures and dabble with finely tuned weather patterns, and yet the entire entity of Nature is beyond our reach. We still remain at Nature’s mercy. Last month’s tragic earthquake in Haiti starkly demonstrates this reality.

So how does a severe natural disaster like Haiti’s earthquake impact the psyche of the survivors? Fortunately, the field of natural disaster psychology has studied past calamities and puts forth some answers to this question. Unfortunately, the psychological impact can be quite wounding and pervasive. Read the rest of this entry

By Evelyn Goodman, Psy.D, LMFT, Anxiety Topic Expert Contributor

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Phobias and avoidant behaviors are often a byproduct of panic attacks and high anxiety states. For example, if you have a panic attack while driving in traffic youmay want to avoid driving in traffic in the future. The two situations have become linked in your mind and just thinking about doing it can bring on some anxiety.

When this becomes an on-going problem it is termed “agoraphobia” which is defined as the “fear of fear”. You really aren’t fearful of driving in traffic; the fear is of the anxiety or panic that is triggered in that situation. Another type of phobia is social phobia, which is about the fear of embarrassment or humiliation if someone or a group of people become aware of your anxiety. The avoidance is to situations where this can happen, e.g. parties, meeting new people, speaking in front of a group. The third type of phobia is more specific to a situation or place and usually the result of a traumatic event. A child who is bitten by a dog, getting stuck in an elevator, or worse, being a victim of a crime such as an assault or rape. Also, certain obsessive-compulsive thoughts and rituals have avoidance components such as avoiding certain foods or places because of the fear of a negative consequence, even though it does not have much reality. Read the rest of this entry

A GoodTherapy.org News Headline

The symptoms of the so-called “Swine Flu” have been amply detailed among various media in recent months and weeks, but anxiety isn’t typically listed. However, many students may be feeling anxious about their chances of contracting the virus, and about what effects absenteeism might have on their grades and other measures of performance. Recently,a counselor at Kansas State University has called for widespread attention to the potential for mental health difficulties among students in relation to the flu, and has worked to ensure that teachers do not require medical permission notes for sick students or enact other potentially panic-inducing measures. It is hoped that with the right care and understanding, students can quickly and healthily return to focusing on their mental well-being along with their exams.

© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist St. Louis Bureau - All Rights Reserved.

GoodTherapy.org Featured Column written by Judith Barr, MA, LMHC

Click here to contact Judith and/or see her GoodTherapy.org Profile

So much is being said and felt about healthcare reform. But do we know if our fears surrounding the issue of healthcare reform are from the here-and-now, or from once-upon-a-time long, long ago?

As a psychotherapist I see how often our ancient terrors are enmeshed with our current fears, such that the fear we feel over current events is magnified by the unresolved fears from our childhood. This happens not only on an individual scale, but also a cultural, national, and even global scale. This enmeshment of ancient and current fears (and other feelings) blinds us to the truths that are present today and to making wise decisions for lasting solutions. Read the rest of this entry