|
Anxiety symptoms are serious and interfere with a person’s daily life and relationships. It is vital to receive professional therapeutic services. The sooner that you receive treatment will improve your chances for recovery. Please contact the Family Resource Counseling Center, a private practice therapy office located in West Los Angeles, near Santa Monica and Beverly Hills. We offer a variety of individual and group services for infants, children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families experiencing anxiety disorders. A variety of educational and support groups are also offered for parents and adolescents by our competent staff of psychologists and therapists. Other services include testing and assessments. An on-site psychiatrist is available by appointment. Please look at our entire website for more information about our comprehensive list of psychotherapeutic services.
Mood disorders are diagnosed when an individual suffers from prolonged and severe disruptions or changes in mood. Disorders are diagnosed depending on whether an individual's behavior is dominated by either depression or mania. Mood disorders include bipolar disorder and depressive disorders, but not anxiety.
Bipolar disorder is an ongoing mood disorder where an individual experiences one or more episodes of mania (an abnormal period of irritable or elevated mood) or mixed episodes of mania and depression (DSM-IV; Goodwin & Jamison,1990). Bipolar disorder is different from major depressive disorder in that there is a history of manic or hypomanic (milder and not psychotic) episodes. Additionally, in the instance of depression in bipolar disorder, it usually begins at a younger age, it is hereditary, and there are more frequent episodes or recurrences (DSM-IV; Goodwin & Jamison, 1990). Another noteworthy difference is that medications that help treat bipolar disorder don’t have as positive results with depressive disorders. (Goodwin & Jamison, 1990)
Depressive Disorders According to the Surgeon General, what is now called major depressive disorder, differs both quantitatively and qualitatively from normal sadness or grief. There are normal levels of sadness or dysphoria (a negative or aversive mood state) that interfere less and are experienced for a short period of time. However, with severe depression, a person may not experience pleasure, will feel hopeless, and will not feel happier even after something positive occurs. At times there will be suicidal thoughts and perhaps psychotic symptoms such as delusions or hallucinations.
If you believe you have a mood disorder or perhaps experience any of the symptoms described above, it is usually helpful to seek therapeutic services. The professional help you will receive may help with your relationships and cause some personal relief. If you are a loved one of someone diagnosed with a mood disorder, it can be difficult at times and frustrating. You may want to meet with a counselor for added support and guidance.
Please contact the Family Resource Counseling Center, a private practice therapy office located in West Los Angeles, near Santa Monica and Beverly Hills. We offer a variety of individual and group services for infants, children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families experiencing mood disorders. If you would like more information regarding mood disorders, we have provided below, some on-line resources.
Anxiety Disorders According to the Surgeon General, anxiety disorders are the most common, or frequently occurring, mental disorders. Anxiety disorders all have a type of anxiety included as the primary symptom. Anxiety can be found in young children, adolescents and adults. The symptoms can be expressed in many different ways and can be very troublesome to the person experiencing them.
Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder (with and without a history of agoraphobia – see below) Some people experience what is called a panic attack or anxiety attack. When a person experiences multiple attacks, this is diagnosed as Panic Disorder. A panic attack can be a very uncomfortable episode where a person may experience intense feelings of dread or fear, rapid heart beat, sweating, dizziness, shaking, discomfort, nausea, numbness, shortness of breath, hot flashes or chills. Some people may even mistake these symptoms for a heart attack. A panic attack can feel different for each person who has one. However, they are usually described by all as uncomfortable and often a person will fear the possibility of another one. There are certain medications that can help treat anxiety attacks, and it is also recommended that a person also seek counseling.
Agoraphobia (with and without a history of panic disorder): A disorder where someone experiences fear or anxiety about being in a public place. They may fear having a panic attack, or being embarrassed, or being unable to leave if they need to.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Constant excessive worrying with difficulty sleeping or concentrating or irritability
Specific Phobia An on-going, excessive fear brought on by a situation or specific object
Social Phobia A fear of social situations that are unfamiliar or new and in which one will feel anxious or embarrassed
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Excessive thoughts, impulses, or images that occur repeatedly, and repeated behaviors (like hand-washing) that are extreme, yet the person feels they must perform in order to prevent something.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder After experiencing a traumatic, possibly life threatening situation, one may have symptoms of fear, helplessness or horror, with reoccurring symptoms of nightmares, thoughts, reliving the experience, or having lost memory of the trauma. There may be symptoms of numbness, isolating, loss of pleasure, problems with sleep, anger, concentration, and anxiety.
Acute Stress Disorder Similar symptoms to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder yet the symptoms are experienced or felt for a shorter amount of time than with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
In addition, there are adjustment disorders with anxious features, anxiety disorders due to general medical conditions, substance-induced anxiety disorders, and the residual category of anxiety disorder not otherwise specified (DSM-IV).
If you would like more information regarding anxiety disorders, we have provided below, some on-line resources.
LINKS:
Depression Guide
www.depression-guide.com
|
