Phobias are anxiety disorders characterized by a persistent and excessive fear of an object or a situation.  Unlike generalized anxiety disorders, a phobia is usually connected to something specific.  The impact of a phobia can be severely disabling, if untreated.  Individuals with phobias often realized that their fear is irrational, but they feel powerless to control it.  Cognitive behavior therapy exposes those phobias so the patients can better work through their phobias which can, and often does, interfere with an individual’s work, school and social functioning.

Examples of some phobias include, agoraphobia – the fear of places or situations from which you can’t escape, social phobia — also referred to as social anxiety disorder;  the extreme worry about social situations, often leading to self-isolation, glossophobia – performance anxiety, or the fear of speaking in front of an audience, acrophobia — the fear of heights, claustrophobia – fear of enclosed or tight spaces, aviophobia – the fear of flying, hemophobia – phobia of blood or injury, arachnophobia – fear of spiders, ophidiophobia – fear of snakes, and nyctophobia – a fear of the nighttime or darkness.

Good sleep is necessary for optimal mental and physical health and can affect hormone levels, mood and weight.  Sleep disorders involve quality, timing and amount of sleep.  Types of sleep disorders include:  sleep apnea, insomnia, sleep deprivation, narcolepsy and restless leg syndrome.

The inability to fall asleep or disturbed sleep has been linked to both physical and emotional difficulties.  Sleep problems can both contribute to or exacerbate mental health conditions and also be a symptom of an underlying mental health issue.

Anxiety can be a healthy and appropriate response to a stressful situation. When an individual faces potentially harmful stressors, feelings of anxiety are not only normal, but necessary for survival.  However, prolonged and intense anxiety can be indicative of an anxiety disorder.  It is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry and can interfere with an individual’s work, relationships and daily activities.

People of any age can develop an anxiety disorder.  It tends to appear gradually, with the first symptoms most likely between childhood or the teen years and continue into and adulthood. Common symptoms of anxiety include: Feeling nervous or tense, Having a sense of danger, An increased heart rate, Sweating, Difficulty concentrating, Sleep difficulties, Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems and Fatigue.

Occasional feelings of sadness and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities are familiar to all of us.  However, if these feelings persist it may be an indication of a depression.  Depression is a disorder that causes persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest that can interfere with daily functioning.  It is different from the mood fluctuations that individuals regularly experience. Often grief and social isolation can trigger depressive episodes.

Symptoms of depression can include: a depressed mood, reduced interest in previously enjoyed activities, a loss of sexual desire, changes in appetite, unintentional weight loss or gain, changes in sleep pattern, restlessness, fatigue and loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness, concentration difficulties and suicidal ideation. There are many different causes of depression.  Some of the factors that may play a role in depression include:  life events, family history, serious medical issues, substance abuse, brain chemistry, stress and poor nutrition.