Agoraphobia: Afraid To Leave Your Comfort Zone

Many people have a fear of leaving home, of being alone, or traveling outside of a limited area close to home. Some people are able to create a zone that includes their job, a grocery store, their church, and others are unable to leave home or be left alone at home. This type of phobia is like a prison of one's own making with invisible lines that cannot be crossed. For many this condition feels hopeless, painful, and permanent.

People who are unable to work often become dependent on the support of other people or they become permanently disabled on public assistance. Some people find relief through medication, but the people who contact me usually report that medication doesn't help. Some people are able to white-knuckle a short trip to a family event or their child's school play if they have several strong drinks of alcohol, and have the added discomfort of feeling intoxicated as well as extremely nervous about being outside their comfort zone.

Pure Obsessional OCD

Like any disease or syndrome, there are many different types and different manifestations of OCD. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, where sufferers use certain particular rituals to combat the unwanted thoughts that enter into the mind, is fairly well documented. Less well known is Pure O OCD, a form of obsessive compulsive disorder which is based more upon the unwanted thoughts and mental obsessions which cause OCD, rather than the rituals and habits which characterise the disorder.

Everybody in the world is capable of having unwanted, unpleasant and frightening thoughts. The mind is capable of creating some really odd and disturbing imagery-just think back to any particularly nasty dreams you may have had, to see the truth in this. The difference between the majority of the population and sufferers of any form of OCD is that someone with OCD will experience these thoughts and their subsequent anxiety all the time, and will find it difficult or impossible to get rid of them.

OCD Statistics People Should Know

Since obsessive- compulsive disorder is one of the most common mental illnesses in the United States, knowing the statistics could pay off for most individuals. Most people know at least one person who suffers from this disorder. Understanding more about it can help each person understand sufferers just a little bit more. This is a disorder that affects men, women and children of all ages. There are treatment options out there, which mean nobody has to suffer from this as much as they would without the treatment. Important OCD statistics include:

- This is one of the most common disorders out there; it actually affects 2.2 million American adults each year. This number increases to around four million in the United States when children and young adults are factored into the equation. The number of people who are diagnosed is set to increase each year in the future. Since there are treatments available most people can keep their symptoms under control and lead regular lives.

The Many Symptoms of OCD

There are a lot of different symptoms of OCD that can help people identify whether or not they have it. Even if someone shows several symptoms they should see a doctor before they diagnose themselves. There are a lot of other mental disorders that are closely related to OCD and will show the same symptoms. Doctors will run a number of different tests in order to give the proper diagnosis. The symptoms are just one part of the diagnosing process, but they are looked at very closely.

Compulsion symptoms

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that sufferers have to perform in order to get rid of their obsessive thoughts. This is only temporary relief, the thoughts and compulsions will come back. Everyone has different compulsions based on their individual personality. Some examples of symptoms include: counting, keeping order, repeating actions, washing, cleaning and checking on things.

Tips for Overcoming OCD

Individuals that suffer from OCD can have a hard time even doing simple things, like going outside to the grocery store. The constant thoughts and rituals are enough to take over the life of anyone. It's important for people who suffer from OCD to look for tips to overcome it. There are a lot of treatment options out there, which means each person can find something that is effective for them. The approach someone takes is going to depend on how they feel, how severe their OCD is and what they are comfortable with.

Overcoming OCD by changing thought processes

One of the best tips for overcoming OCD is to not treat the thoughts with fear. The anxiety that causes the OCD is what really needs to be dealt with first. Thoughts are the enemy, but it doesn't have to remain that way. Changing daily behavior is extremely important when it comes to changing thought processes.

Symptoms and Treatment of Relationship OCD

What relationship OCD is and symptoms of it

Most people today know exactly what OCD is, but they aren't familiar with all the different types that exist. For example, relationship OCD is extremely common, but far less recognized. Some people have this disorder and don't even realize it; they just think their issues arise from regular relationship insecurities. When someone does have this particular type of disorder they can end up ruining their relationship because of their constantly changing feelings and emotions.

How does relationship OCD work?
This particular form of OCD causes people to question their partner and whether or not they really are the right one for them. They will take that question to the next level by thinking they might not love them because these questions are arising in the first place.

The Distinctions Among The Four Kinds of Mental Health Providers

There are so many professionals in the field of mental health that the average Joe would find it challenging to tell the differences of what each one is supposed to do. Counselors, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists... These terms are being confused and used interchangeably without the slightest inkling of the lines that divide each profession. This might be due to the overlap among the types of mental health professions with respect to training, the types of problems they handle, and treatment approaches they utilize. Thus, all the types of mental health professions are competent in the recognition and treatment of the most common psychological problems.

So what if you needed the services of a mental health provider? Which one should you set an appointment with? Well, if you really wanted to be sure that you get the most beneficial services, you might want to know the basics about these professions.

Chaos Tolerance - A Side Effect of Addiction and Unstable Mental Health Symptoms Affecting Families

Do you live with someone who has an active drug/alcohol addiction-untreated/unstable mental health concerns-or with someone who behaves in ways that create a tremendous amount of chaos in your life? If this scenario describes you, and you are trying to love, help and support this person-- it is highly likely that you are living under the influence of FOG-Fear, Obligation and Guilt.

I work with a lot of family members who are living under the influence of FOG-and they don't even realize it. They realize they are feeling stressed, but they often lose sight of the compassion fatigue they are experiencing. Family members, who are living with someone who has an active drug/alcohol addiction or significantly unstable mental health concerns, begin to develop a tolerance for chaos. The threshold for "chaos tolerance" can become so high that family members can lose sight of how potentially dangerous or emotionally draining their environment has become. This type of tolerance to chaos can creep up on anyone-no matter how intelligent, successful, skilled, talented, financially stable, or educated he/she might be.

Concerns Surrounding Attention Deficit Disorder

It seems most people are familiar with the symptoms that accompany Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD.) According to the National Resource Center on ADHD, the disorder affects 5-8% of American schoolchildren and persists into adulthood in 60% of all cases. Given the commonality of the disorder, most people have been directly affected by the phenomenon and can recognize the symptoms which include, but are not limited to:

• Physical restlessness
• Tendencies towards forgetfulness
• Excessive distractibility
• Poor time management skills
• Difficulties beginning/finishing tasks
• Impulsivity (acting/decision making without the consideration of possible consequences)
• Poor short term memory/ difficulty following instructions

Stress, and The Power of Emotions

Recent studies in social psychology and economics reveal the incredible importance of emotional intelligence. This form of intelligence affects every aspect of a person's life, from how much they will earn to their overall happiness with life.

Emotional intelligence describes the ability of an individual to make critical insights into their current emotional state. This has also been called heart intelligence because of the association between higher emotional intelligence and being in tune with one's own 'heart rhythm.'

Stressors in life are constant. Everyone experiences stress on daily basis, no matter if they are happy or depressed, healthy or sick.