Phobias Phobias are intense, persistent and exaggerated fears of particular objects or situations. Phobia sufferers typically feel panic or a sense of dread when they’re in the feared situation, or in anticipation of it. They typically aim to escape from or avoid the phobic situation where they can. We only describe a fear as a… Read more »
Episode 10 – Addressing Avoidance This week, Chris and Rowan look at the topic of avoidance and avoidant personality disorders. Avoidance is a problem that arises when one’s fears or anxieties get in the way of them either doing or not doing something, which impacts on their quality of life. Those with avoidant personality… Read more »
Expunging Anxiety Episode 6 – Expunging Anxiety On this week’s episode, Chris and Rowan look at ways of managing anxiety in our current situation and how we can help those around us if they’re suffering. In recent years, positive psychology has changed some of the ways we think about anxiety, so we explore ways… Read more »
Chris Mackey demonstrates how he introduces a therapy intervention called “bilateral stimulation” to clients. According to Mackey, this technique is the single most helpful intervention he has yet encountered for managing with worries, anxiety-related sensations and pain. Remarkably it can be accessed in an inexpensive app developed by the excellent clinical psychologist, Mark Grant. The… Read more »
Panic attacks represent one of the more common difficulties for which people seek psychological treatment. Panic attacks involve a sudden bout of anxiety or intense fear in the absence of real danger. They typically reach a peak within a few minutes, and involve experiencing a number of characteristic symptoms which may include heart palpitations, sweating,… Read more »
Clinical psychologist Chris Mackey discusses what anxiety is and how it can be treated. Feelings of anxiety can be nature’s way of protecting us from situations that threaten our survival, but often these feelings can be triggered by threats that, in fact, do not pose a risk to us at all. This clip was taken… Read more »
Statistics suggest that approximately one in five adults suffers from an anxiety-based condition of which a prominent feature is some form of worry. Approximately twice that number of people would worry on a regular basis. Therefore, worry is one of the most common forms of psychological distress. Some level of worry may be normal and… Read more »
Panic attacks are not such a problem. That may seem a ridiculous statement when panic reactions can be so exceedingly uncomfortable and disruptive. However, it is commonly not panic symptoms themselves which are the most unsettling aspect of panic attacks. The main problem is panic about the panic. A key goal of dealing with panic… Read more »
Many people find it very difficult to make a decision to see a psychologist. Often when they do so, this has already started a process of turning a bigger problem into a lesser one. Because commonly when people see a psychologist for the first time, they have two problems, or layers of problems. The first… Read more »