Most people have cognitive 'blind spots.' Simply put, it's hard to see our own thinking flaws and all the ways we keep ourselves anxious without someone else pointing it out. It's normal. As a therapist (Intern) I see it all the time. Someone mulls over a particular thought pattern or behavior that they've never examined before and bingo! They say something like "I never thought of it that way." It doesn't happen as often as I would like, but it does happen. Here's a question though: Is there a way to do this on yourself? Is there a
Planting the Seeds of Change
Picture this: A young guy sitting in the corner of a bedroom with his knees to his chest. He's sweating, praying and all alone. The expression on his face is one of utter hopelessness and terror. That was me in 2001 at the height of my anxiety. Luckily, things have changed. Last night I had dinner with my beautiful wife. We had some good food, we laughed, and I wasn't at all bothered by the 100 or so people around us. I couldn't have done this in 2001. The question is why? What made me a nervous wreck? I could give you some bloated
Are You Anxious About the 2012 Apocalypse?
Imagine looking up and seeing an enormous ball of fire falling from the sky. Where would you run to? What would the moment before impact be like? Seems dramatic right? Yet that's precisely what some people think will happen on December 21, 2012. I don't buy it. I don't believe the world will end on any predetermined date. But a lot of people do. About 10% of the population believes the world will end on December 21, 2012. Some folks have even contemplated suicide to avoid the pain of anticipation. People have written about the 2012
Paul Earns His Master’s Degree
Finally, I've done it. I earned my master's degree in counseling psychology. To be honest the whole thing was a little anticlimactic. I was expecting to feel something "big", but I don't. That being said, I am relieved. I can't remember the last T.V. show I followed or football game I watched all the way through. That part was getting old. You know what though? I didn't learn anything new about anxiety disorders or symptoms; it seems that I had that down. I did, however, learn tons about the brain, human behavior, communication, et
Space Jumper Destroys Anxiety
There's a good chance that at some point you've questioned whether or not you can overcome anxiety. That's normal. What can develop from this unfortunately is a strong dose of self-doubt, new fears, and an inability to move forward. Still, there's hope. See, you're not the only one with bad nerves. Space jumper Felix Baumgartner, who recently set the world skydiving record by free falling 126,720 ft (24 miles), has also experienced high anxiety. He, however, was able to conquer his fears in spectacular fashion. In an interview with CNN
The Wizard of Oz Guide to Beating Anxiety
Before we get started watch the video clip below. Then I'll share with you some thoughts on why I think it's an important metaphor for what you're going through and how it can help you to reduce, or maybe even erase, your abnormal anxiety. The truth is that I could try to explain to you all the nuances of abnormal anxiety until I'm blue in the face, yet there's a good chance that you'll remain in the dark about the big picture. In this regard, you could stay in the "Why this?" Or "Why that?" mode without ever finding real answers.
To be, or not to be: that is the Question
Today I wanted to check in with you and let you know where I'm at and where I'm going. I've been in grad school for nearly two years working on a master's degree in counseling psychology. The road has been long, sometimes irritating, but so far completely worth it. Now I've come to a crossroads and I want to reach out to you and get your feedback about a decision I'm mulling over. See, I've been on track to become a licensed MFT and LPC. The two licenses basically mean that I'd be a therapist able to treat individuals, families,
Relaxation Is Control
Recently I was talking to a psychologist friend of mine who was trying to explain traumatic brain injuries to me when we suddenly switched to anxiety disorders. During the conversation my friend blurts out this gem of a statement. He says, "Control is relaxation."As he continued to talk I kept thinking, "Holy moly that was good." I've explained the same concept in way more complicated terms. What he said reminded me of Apple products; clean, simple, and effective. So what does that statement mean? First, I flipped the statement around
Want a Free Ebook?
I want to ask you an important question. And that is: Why are you stuck? What is it about your experience with abnormal anxiety that's made it difficult to overcome? I know that for me it was the sense that anxiety symptoms would somehow hurt me, either physically or mentally. I had a hard time convincing myself that anxiety wasn't dangerous. But, in time, I learned how to defeat this pattern. So I wrote about it. My new eBook, The Big Idea, deals with this important problem. The problem I'm talking about is resistance. Resistance to