Increased basal ganglia activity is often a finding we have seen with anxiety disorders. When there is increased activity on the left side it is often associated with anxiety and irritability (expressed anxiety) and when there is increased activity on the right side there is often anxiety, social withdrawal and conflict avoidance. Increased activity in […]
Archive | Anxiety & Panic Therapy Without Medications
The Importance of Choosing Your Thoughts
By Dr. Patrick Hart on August 2, 2013 in Anxiety & Panic Therapy Without Medications, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Depression Treatment | Remain Drug Free
While time spent alone can be a very positive opportunity for reflection, personal growth, and creativity, in can also be dangerous if we happen to be negatively turned against ourselves. This is reflected in the difference between introspection and rumination. Introspection is a process of self- reflection, examination, and exploration, all of which are positive […]
3 Deep Breathing Exercises to Reduce Anxiety
By Dr. Patrick Hart on July 31, 2013 in Anxiety & Panic Therapy Without Medications, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, News
Therese J. Borchard writes this article acknowledging the importance of deep breathing in her personal recovery from problems such as anxiety and depression. She writes that shallow breathing contributes to feelings of panic and that she has personally been reduced to breathing out of a paper bag to maintain physical control of her breathing on […]
Are You Impatient for Change?
By Dr. Patrick Hart on July 29, 2013 in Anxiety & Panic Therapy Without Medications, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Depression Treatment | Remain Drug Free, News
It hard not to understand why someone in our current society might be impatient for change. The world we live in has two recurring messages on this subject. One, that we aren’t good enough. Two, that change is quick and easy. There is medicine that is supposed to fix our physical and mental health problems, […]
A Little 3-Step Guide to Overcoming Fear
By Dr. Patrick Hart on July 10, 2013 in Anxiety & Panic Therapy Without Medications, Holistic Mental Health Research, Practice Your Mental Health!, Social Phobia and Relationship Counseling
Fear is something that exists in most of our lives. Some may think that the best way to deal with the fear is to meditate on it and seek to control fear by being perpetually prepared for what they’re afraid of. That’s how Barrie Davenport used to think, but she found it to be a […]
Emotional Appraisal Can Alleviate Anxiety
By Dr. Patrick Hart on July 3, 2013 in Anxiety & Panic Therapy Without Medications, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Depression Treatment | Remain Drug Free, News
Emotional Re-Appraisal is one of the most effective methods today in dealing with emotional arousal. The technique involves taking an initial reaction and re-evaluating it. This evaluation or appraisal diffuses the impact of the initial response and alleviates anxious symptoms. Unfortunately neurological mechanisms of performing the appraisal take place in the prefrontal cortex of the […]
5 Steps For Relaxing and Deep Meditation
By Dr. Patrick Hart on June 26, 2013 in Anxiety & Panic Therapy Without Medications, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Depression Treatment | Remain Drug Free, Holistic Mental Health Research, Practice Your Mental Health!
Most people have probably heard about the benefits of meditation. Some people may have even tried it out, but experienced a certain dissatisfaction or sense that the meditation is not as deep or meaningful as advertised. This article provides a few tips to help improve meditation and achieve the gravity and satisfaction people look for. […]
5 Things to Do When You Feel Insecure
By Dr. Patrick Hart on June 12, 2013 in Anxiety & Panic Therapy Without Medications, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Holistic Mental Health Research, Practice Your Mental Health!
Most people have experienced moments of intense insecurity. This comes from viewing ourselves from an imaginary outside perspective and judging ourselves according to that view. These unsettling experiences of insecurity are unfortunately a part of life and so our goal to maintain ourselves is not to struggle to conquer the feelings, but learning how to […]
Why We ‘Self-Medicate’ Our Own Depression or Anxiety
By Dr. Patrick Hart on June 6, 2013 in Anxiety & Panic Therapy Without Medications, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Depression Treatment | Remain Drug Free, Holistic Mental Health Research, News, Practice Your Mental Health!, Private Addiction Treatment
How do we know when a couple of nightly drinks make the dark turn towards alcohol dependency? When liquor routinely becomes the solution for stress, anxiety, or conflict, it’s time to take a serious look at the issue. Mental health problems are often self-medicated with a drink or trip to the bar. If you notice […]
7 Steps to Prevent Getting Stuck in an Emotion
By Dr. Patrick Hart on June 4, 2013 in Anxiety & Panic Therapy Without Medications, Holistic Mental Health Research, Practice Your Mental Health!
Are you stuck in the pain of a break up? Do you perpetually grieve the loss of a loved one? How can you break through a tough emotion that won’t loosen its grip on your heart? Internally learning to accept the situation and practice patience with yourself will help you to heal. Be sure to […]