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Marsha Marcoe, MFT
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Specializing in the Treatment of Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, and Trained in EMDR Therapy, Lic# MFC 31140

What are Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety DisordersAnxiety Disorders
Panic Disorder Panic disorder is characterized by four or more panic attacks in a month, or one or more panic attacks followed by persistent fear of experiencing another. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, dizziness, heart palpitations, numbness, feelings of unreality, or nausea.

Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is a complex set of fears and avoidance behaviors associated with being alone or feeling trapped in a public place. Agoraphobia can be so debilitating that some individuals become completely house bound. Many, who experience this condition, find that situations such as driving, using elevators, going into stores, or traveling long distances arouse anxiety and panic.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is recurrent and persistent images or thoughts that the individual finds disturbing. People with this disorder often perform routine or ritual behavior that helps relieve the anxiety brought on by the obsession. The relief is only temporary and results in repetitive, time-consuming rituals which interfere with daily functioning. The most common obsessions are exactness, doubt, fear of contamination, and thoughts or images of violence. The most common compulsions include cleaning, hand washing, checking, hoarding, counting and repeating.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder is unrealistic anxiety and excessive worry about two or more life circumstances. Symptoms such as irritability, muscle tension, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and sleep disturbances characterize this disorder. 

 

TreatmentTreatment

Anxiety disorder is a condition that has been misdiagnosed and misunderstood for years; although, Anxiety disorders are among the most treatable psychological disorders if diagnosed properly.

The Anxiety Disorder Association of America has determined that the most effective treatments involve cognitive-behavior therapy and medication for some.

Cognitive therapy helps people analyze and reconstruct their thoughts and beliefs that may be causing or contributing to overwhelming anxiety. Cognitive therapy helps people learn their thinking errors and distinguish realistic thinking and appraisal from fear-producing thoughts.

Behavior therapy uses a variety of techniques (tools) that help people modify and change their reactions to their own dialogue and their behavior.

Medication often plays an important role in treatment of anxiety disorders. It is not always necessary and many people leave the drug treatment once they understand how they are creating the disorder.

Trained in EMDR

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes. 

 

 
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