Tag Archives: Exposure

Is your anxiety helping or hurting you?

1)   Figure out the benefit(s) of your anxiety. Anxiety is beneficial when it activates us to solve problems or gets us moving on a task or activity. Our anxiety may be the push we need to speak up or speak … Continue reading →

Are you running the Boston marathon today?

  Since this is the day of the Boston marathon, I thought I would write a blog post about running. Running! Some people spend their lives running. Running is a way of getting away from something. It’s a matter of … Continue reading →

When the horse throws you off, should you get back on right away?

Deciding to confront your fear can be a helpful thing; however, the manner in which you do so can potentially make the fear worse. Here are some thoughts about getting back in the saddle: 1)   Fear is functional- therefore it … Continue reading →

Anxiety, awareness, looking, and seeing

When our anxiety controls our attention, our attention becomes narrowed and constricted. We hone in on what is threatening- and often become pre-occupied with getting rid of our anxiety. We simply don’t want to feel as anxious as we actually … Continue reading →

The value of revisiting trauma

The value of revisiting traumatic experiences is that it gives a person an opportunity to organize, make sense of, and gain clarity on past events. Many people who suffer from post-traumatic stress experience memories and associated events in ways that … Continue reading →

When not to use DBT skills: Conference highlights on treating anxiety disorders (with Melanie Harned, Ph.D. and Katheryn Korslund, Ph.D.).

This last week I was able to attend a wonderful conference on exposure-based treatments. Exposure therapy is basically this: If you are confronted with objects, sensations, or memories that you are afraid of over and over again eventually your fear … Continue reading →