How do I choose a therapist when there are so many to pick from? Here’s my short answer: pay attention to the person, not just the profile. In the first consultation call, notice whether talking feels easy, whether they can actually see you each week, and whether you walk away
In the first part of this blog, “How to Boost Self-Esteem – And Unintended Side Effects”, we discussed the common desire to increase our sense of self-worth. We talked about how our efforts to do this by striving to prove ourselves are typically unhelpful. Moreover, they may even lead to
A panic attack usually peaks within minutes. Most people feel the worst of it around the 10-minute mark, and the acute surge often eases in about 5 to 20 minutes. That is the clock for one episode. The leftover shake, fog, and exhaustion can last much longer, and that leftover
You already know the pattern. That is why a digital detox for depression and anxiety keeps crossing your mind. The phone is in your hand before you have decided to pick it up. You open one app to check one thing. Ten minutes later you could not name what you
I feel a little bit low about myself right now. I feel like I’ve missed the bar in an area that is important to me. Have you ever felt that way? If so, you are in good company. It makes sense to want to boost self-esteem when we’re feeling lousy
You’ve been sitting at the laptop after everyone else signed off, and even though the work is actually finished, you still can’t quite leave it. Something still feels off, like if you walk away now a detail will drop and it will be on you. You feel it in your
If you’ve had a traumatic experience, the silence before sleep can feel scary You know the feeling all too well. The dread starts to creep in as the sun sets. You know at some point you are going to have to turn off the lights, put your phone down, and
You follow the self-care advice. You breathe deep. You move your body. You reach for tools that promise calm. Yet the tension returns like a tide that never fully recedes. I’m Dr. Connor McClenahan, and in my years of sitting with people in Pasadena who face this exact struggle, I’ve
You’ve just spent 3 hours re-reading the same brief. Yet something still feels “off.” You can’t shake the nagging fear that one missed detail could ruin everything. You look at the clock and you panic: you can’t afford to keep re-working this detail. You’re worried one small mistake could lead
“How long will these panic attack episodes last? When will peace return?” Quick answer: Most panic attacks peak within about 10 minutes and ease within ~20–30 (see how long panic attacks last for minutes, peak, and aftershock). This article is about recovery from panic disorder — how long it often