Anxiety is a natural reaction to stress. When anxiety leads to excessive fear that is disproportionate to the situation and hinders one’s ability to function normally, it is considered an anxiety disorder. There are multiple types of anxiety including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Separation Anxiety Disorder.

Combining psychotherapy and medication (if needed) may be a suitable treatment plan for you or your child.

Depression is a common and serious medical illness. It causes severe symptoms that affect how the person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, or working.

Symptoms range from mild to severe:

-Feeling sad or having a depressed mood

-Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

-Loss of energy or increased fatigue

-Feeling worthless or guilt

-Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

-Changes in appetite (weight loss or gain)

-Thoughts of death or suicide

There are different types of depression that occur under unique circumstances that include: Persistent depressive disorder, Postpartum depression, Psychotic depression, and Seasonal affective disorder.

Treatment for children and adults consists of a combination of psychotherapy and medication management depending on severity.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects both children and adults. Symptoms typically present early in age but often go undiagnosed.

Symptoms can be broken down into three types: Inattentive type, Hyperactive/Impulsive type, and Combined Type.

Inattentive type symptoms:

-Doesn’t pay close attention to details

-Makes careless mistakes in schoolwork or professional tasks

-Has difficulty staying focused during lectures, conversations, or reading

-Does not seem to listen during a conversation

-Does not follow instructions

-Difficulty organizing tasks or spaces

-Frequently losing items such as schoolwork, books, keys, wallet, phone, etc

-Forgets simple tasks, such as chores, returning phone calls, keeping appointments

Hyperactive/Impulsive type symptoms

-Frequently fidgets

-Consistently taps hands or feet

-Unable to stay seated at work or school

-Unable to play or do leisure activities quietly

-Talks too much

-Finishing people’s sentences

-Blurts out answers before questions have been completely asked

-Difficulty waiting their turn

-Interrupts others

Combining psychotherapy therapy and medication management (if needed) helps children and adults control their actions to improve structure and organization.

PTSD occurs in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a serious accident, natural disaster, war/combat, rape, violent personal assault, or terrorist act. PTSD can cause flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety. Symptoms can occur within one month of the event but sometimes do not appear until years later.

There are four types of PTSD symptoms

Intrusive memories:

-Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the event

-Distressing dreams

-Flashbacks of the traumatic event

-Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that may remind one of the traumatic event

Avoidance

Avoiding reminders of the traumatic event may include avoiding people, places, activities, objects, and situations that bring on distressing memories.

Negative thoughts and feelings

-Negative thoughts about oneself, other people, or the world

-Hopelessness about the future

-Memory problems

-Difficulty maintaining close relationships

-Lack of interest in activities the person once enjoyed

-Feeling emotionally numb

Physical and emotional reactions

-Being easily startled or frightened

-Always being on guard for danger

-Trouble sleeping

-Trouble concentrating

-Overwhelming guilt or shame

-Self-destructive behavior

Treatment varies from patient to patient and can affect children and adults. A combination of psychotherapy and medication management depending on the severity can improve patient outcomes.