This is the last article in our blog series on the crippling mental health phenomenon of panic episodes. To review, here is a brief summary of what we’ve covered in this series: Panic can present in various different ways – mental, emotional, and physiological, as…

Some people often speak about the “Mind-Body connection” as if our minds and our bodies are somehow two separate parts of how we experience life. However, the uncomfortable experience of panic symptoms is one of the clearest ways we know that mind and body are…

  Much has been written and researched about Mindfulness and how helpful it can be for our general health, as well as our ability to cope with mentally distressing states, such as panic and anxiety. At its core, mindfulness is essentially a way of intentionally…

Part 4 of this series discussed how preventing a panic attack is much more effective than trying to cope with one once it has started. We also highlighted the need to confront the issues or fears behind the panic, rather than avoid them. We will…

A very common question we are asked as specialists in treatment for anxiety is “What is the best way to cope with a panic attack?” This can be a tricky question. Since panic can be so overpowering and uncomfortable, typically all we want when we’re…

Photo credit: Alexandra Gorn If you’ve ever experienced a panic attack, you know firsthand how horrible it feels. You also know how natural an impulse it is to want to do anything possible to avoid having another panic attack again in the future. Unfortunately, some…

Photo credit: Nabeel Syed In part 1 of this series, we addressed what a panic attack feels like. In this article, we’ll shift to address the question of “Why?” we panic, which is often more nuanced than we might initially think. Colloquially, people often assume…

What does a Panic Attack feel like? Even if you’ve never experienced a panic attack yourself, you probably know someone who has, or have seen one portrayed in the media. Panic Disorder affects 2-3% of individuals in the United States in a given year (Source:…

CBT SoCal has offered therapy online via secure video platforms for years prior to the outbreak of Coronavirus. However, the current pandemic has challenged many businesses and services, including our own, to move exclusively online – at least for the timebeing. Some people feel that speaking…

Image credit: Keloland.com News about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has all of us on high alert. Cities worldwide are on lockdown, and more cases are being reported all over the world every day. Here in Southern California, Mayor Eric Garcetti and the Los Angeles Department of Public Health declared…

How can I be absolutely certain……?   ….that I turned the stove off before I left the house? ….that I WON’T be exposed to deadly bacteria after touching a public doorknob? ….that I WON’T actually fulfill the image in my head about pushing someone into…

A Summary of “Rethinking Positive Thinking: Inside the New Science of Motivation” by Gabriele Oettingen, Psychologist and Researcher We’ve all seen inspiring memes, or heard the messages to “Just stay positive!” “Think on the bright side!” or “Dare to dream big!” It’s often considered basic…