CRG will be CLOSED on:

Monday, December 24th and Tuesday, December 25th for Christmas

and

Monday, December 31st and Tuesday, January 1st for New Year's

March 9, 2013

9 a.m.-6 p.m.  

Stress and worry are a part of everyday life and have been for generations.  However, the number of events that can cause stress in our fast-paced and goal-oriented society seems to be multiplying.  No longer do students just take tests; they take "high stakes tests."  With the proliferation of technology, the turn-around time for reports and projects grows shorter.  With unemployment high, we know that someone else is in line behind us if we do not perform at our job.  With the slow recovery from the recent recession, money is tight and the looming holidays accentuate our limited budgets.  Each year the American Psychological Association surveys adults in seven major metropolitan areas across the U.S.  While stress levels dipped slightly in 2011, 44% of Americans reported that their stress has increased over the past five years.  Increased stress and worry lead to anxiety and depression as well as obesity and chronic medical conditions (www.stressinamerica.org).   Dr. Ned Hallowell, a psychiatrist who has devoted his career to improving the lives of those with ADHD, anxiety, and depression, has developed a wonderful video to help individuals address stress and worry.  Visit his website for a very helpful Top 10 Tips.

A healthy amount of stress and worry can help us be alert and focused, allow us to us to watch out for dangers, perform more effectively at work, and develop a plan to avoid future problems.   Too much stress and worry can become debilitating and cause anxiety, however, which actually inhibits performance.  While everyday stress, traumatic events, and other environmental factors seem to cause or at least exacerbate anxiety, there is increasing research that genetic factors cause some individuals to be more prone to anxiety disorders than others. For more information, visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.  

When normal stress and worry begin to interfere with daily functioning and relationships, the individual experiencing these symptoms may have an anxiety disorder.  Approximately 18% of adults in America experience anxiety disorders each year.  Children also demonstrate high degrees of anxiety, which interfere with normal development and socialization.  Anxiety disorders take many forms and some individuals have more than one type of anxiety disorder.  The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) identifies the following forms of anxiety disorders:

• Panic Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder)
• Specific Phobias (i.e., Agoraphobia, Claustrophobia)
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Separation Anxiety (in children)
• Anxiety Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (a diagnosis used when criteria for a specific anxiety disorder is not fully met or the type of anxiety is unclear)

For more information about each of these anxiety disorders, as well as personal reflections from those who experience the disorders, visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

Anxiety disorders often co-exist with other conditions including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Substance Abuse, gender identity issues, and mood regulation disorders.  Anxiety disorders are also common in individuals with a wide range of medical conditions.  The good news is that anxiety disorders are very treatable.  Behavioral health specialists, including psychologists, psychiatrists and therapists, find that individuals with anxiety are very eager to "feel better" and are generally eager to work toward resolving their symptoms of anxiety.  Effective treatment includes the following:

1. Treatment of anxiety begins with a diagnostic evaluation of the problem in order to identify any co-existing medical or mental health conditions that are contributing to the anxiety.
2. Educating the patient and the family regarding anxiety is the second part of treatment.  Education should include an explanation of the form the anxiety takes, the causes of anxiety, and the types of therapeutic interventions available.  
3. The third part of treatment should focus on psychotherapy.  Individuals with anxiety disorders tend to respond very well to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).  This type of therapy is designed to help the individual change the thought patterns that contribute to their worries and fears and learn new behaviors, which can decrease anxiety.
4. Medications may also be considered to reduce anxiety and improve functioning.  There are a number of types of medications used to treat anxiety.  These medications may be prescribed by a family physician, psychiatrist or other medical specialist. 

This issue of the CRG Newsletter focuses on anxiety, the many forms it can take, and the wide range of people it can affect. Dr. Christine Kerr has written about the types of therapeutic treatments used in treating adults with anxiety disorders.  Dr. David Parker uses his expertise as a Postsecondary Disability Specialist to address the stress of college applications and taking the ACT or SAT. Finally, Dr. Julie Steck answers the question, "What Do Children Have to Worry About?"  In addition, we continue our tradition of introducing members of the CRG team with two articles:  Dr. Steck introduces our four school psychologists and Sarah Kelly interviews our Front Office supervisor, Angela Beard.  All of us at CRG wish you the best during the holiday season and a healthy, happy new year.

Sincerely,

Julie T. Steck, Ph.D., HSPP

Partner & Psychologist

Meet the Staff:

Angela Beard, Front Office Supervisor