I would like to know if anyone have any scientifical information about Psychiatric Service Dogs if it helps patients with Obsesive Compulsive Disorder. What breed of dog is most suitable to help in treatment of anxiety disorder, we are looking at any other treatment against medicine advise. thanks
I think perhaps you misunderstand what a psychiatric service dog is. It isn’t a treatment for a mental illness but an assistive device for managing a substantial limitation. So there isn’t going to be any scientific evidence on the efficacy of a PSD as a treatment for OCD, just personal accounts of some people who found the dog useful in managing certain symptoms and some who did not. It’s a very individual issue whether a PSD is over all more helpful than the drawbacks of being partnered with a service dog or not.
If you want a treatment for OCD that is non-pharmaceutical, try cognitive behavioral therapy. If there is something essential that you aren’t able to do for yourself because of your OCD, that a dog could be trained to do for you, then that’s when you start investigating the possibility of a PSD. An example would be a person who compulsively picks at their skin without realizing that they are doing it. If having a person point out that you are skin picking is a help to remind you to stop, then a dog could be trained to perform that same task.
Now, if you’re interested in animal assisted therapy, you might want to investigate emotional support animals (pets belonging to people disabled by mental illness) or therapy animals. http://www.deltasociety.org/Page.aspx?pid=303#Difference
I have suffered with anxiety for as long as I remember. When I was abou 14 I had a HUGE panic attacck in the car, then when I was 17 I had another huge one in the middle of Tesco. Of course the first one was induced on a journey to hospital, the second the fact that I was walking fast to catch up with my family and I suddenly became aware of my heartbeat. I had a small one since Dad took me through a car wash.
The thing is, I am constantly aware of my heartbeat, if I stop doing anything in a quiet room the first thing I notice is my heartbeat, is it too fast, too slow, too hard? I’m aware I’m doing this but it’s not a habit I can overcome. When I’m out walking I;m worse because my heart pumps faster. My fiance has noticed me putting my hand to my neck a few times to check my pulse and often tells me off for it. Of course, all the time I am aware of my pulse, it doesn’t decrease.
Well, today I have decided not to take anymore SSRIs- I jarred awake suddenly last night mid panic attack and I feel sick, dizzy and disocciated. My fiance is very good at combatting the heartbeat awareness problem which is what makes me such an anxious person.
How would I be best to deal with this, though? I don’t want to take pills because the side effects have been nasty! Thanks
Monitoring your heartbeat is actually something that is very common with panic attacks. I have had this same issue myself and have learned how to stop, you can too. This problem cannot be solved with medication. This requires some self help information and/or therapy to help you understand why you are doing this and how to stop. The most important thing to understand is that although panic attacks are very uncomfortable (to say the least) they cannot harm you. When you monitor your own heartbeat it is because you are feeling anxious and you are worrying about having a panic attack. When you worry about it you can bring one on. Accept that you may have one or you may not, but that if you do have one it will be okay. When you catch yourself monitoring your heartbeat use it as a cue that you are stressed and need to practice some breathing and relaxation instead. This will allow you to replace a bad habit that may bring on a panic attack with a good habit productive one. Changing any habit is difficult. Maybe you could ask your finance to remind you to practice relaxation and breathing when he sees you checking your pulse. It may even help him feel a little less frustrated to know that he can help you this way.
When you do have a panic attack try to relax (way harder than it sounds I know) don’t try to fight it off, stay calm and focus on relaxation and breathing properly. The breathing technique that works best for me is 7:11 breathing. Breath in to the count of 7 and out to the count of 11. Breathing out longer than you breath in helps your body release all the carbon dioxide, this will help with that light headed, dizzy feeling.
Best of luck, I hope this information helps you.
Barely Blind’s music video for the song “Panic Attacks Are Normal” off their self-released album, “My Life With a Giant,” available on iTunes now!
Duration : 0:3:30
Can it make you outgoing or less shy? can it help you do presentations calmly? What does it feel like?
If you are prone to severe anxiety or panic attacks, Xanax can be helpful. It can help assist you in "helping yourself" to gain control of your anxiety or panic. You need to use it as directed by a Doctor that has prescribed it specifically for you.
No drug is a magic "pill", but when used correctly it will help lessen anxiety. It is intended to work with you, as you learn coping skills and learn how to overcome attacks.
Xanax can "take the edge off", especially if you are having an attack. It does not change your personality, as in; making you more out going or less shy, however, when you are less anxious you will feel better, and that can "enable" you to be less inhibited.
Xanax is generally prescribed for" short term usage", or prescribed for a "use as needed" basis.There are other medications that would most likely be prescribed if a person needed something for an extended period of time. Xanax wears off after several hours.
Please help! I adopted my puppy from a rescue about 3 years ago. She had trouble with separation anxiety when I first brought her home. I found out from the rescue that she was abused and abandoned as a puppy. She got over her separation anxiety after a few months. She’s recently started up again. Now when I leave, she starts whining and crying, puts her tail between her legs and begs for attention from my family. I’m not sure what is wrong or what I should do. Any thoughts?
It sounds fairly minor at this point. Try to ignore your dog for the 20 min before you leave and after you come back. That will help her to know that your comings and goings are not something to be excited about or upset about. By ignoring I mean don’t even look at her or touch her, until she has completely calmed down and is no longer whining or agitated. Trust me the dog will calm down and begin to see that they don’t get what they want based on that behavior. This has helped my dog go from a half an hour of panicky barking and whining to a mere 5-10 min, which is an improvement for a dog as severely anxious as he is.
I have general anxiety and depression, help!?
By · CommentsMy last resort would be medication. I was wondering if anyone knew anything that relieves anxiety or helps depression? My anxiety is more of a prolem than my depression. My anxiety is preventing me from getting a job, meeting new people and many other things. Any advice? Thanks!
There are some practical steps you can take now to reduce anxiety that will not do you any harm and are very effective for some
two good ways are learning to control your breathing and meditation
I cant promise this will help but its worth a try, have a look at this page first.
http://therapyworld.net/smf/index.php/topic,71.0.html
Then try this page
http://therapyworld.net/smf/index.php/topic,30.0.html
And this
http://www.freemeditations.com/
Meditation will take a bit of practice but it is well worth trying and the breathing techniques can help when your feeling stressed or panicky. they have helped many people cope and recover but it does take some practice before you feel the results.
All the very best
Ade
Firstly, she follows me everywhere! lol I think it’s cute, but my mom says it’s sad and she’s too spoiled. If I go to the bathroom, she’ll sit outside the door. And if I’m in there for more than a couple of minutes, like to take a shower, she’s having a fit whining and barking. When I leave the house and someone else is there, she’ll walk around the whole time looking for me in all the places that I usually stay until she gives up and falls asleep (and wakes up the second I get back home). If I walk out of the room while she’s sleeping, she’ll automatically wake up just to follow me. She’s always right at my heels. I don’t mind it so much, but I would like some tips on making her more independent because I’ll be off to college soon and I can’t take her with me until after the first year. Any ideas on what I could do?
I could go on for ages - but take a look at the source below as it will give you all the advice you need.
http://www.dog-obedience-training-online.com/dog-separation-anxiety.html
Anxiety is ruining my life, please help?
By · CommentsI’ve never seen a psychiatrist or anything, but I’ve been suffering sever (what I feel like is) anxiety and depression forever it seems but have always kept it quiet. My mom has bipolar disorder, my dad has an anxiety disorder, and the combination of that and an effed up childhood I feel like I’m drowning in my own emotions. I really think I need some help. I’m 21 and really don’t have a doctor. I’ve seen a pediatrician up until I was 18 and then just didn’t get another doctor.
I really want to make an appointment with a psychiatrist, but do I need to go see a regular doctor first and then a referral or something? or can I just directly call the psychiatrist office?
Also, what do I say if they ask me why? (Here comes the anxiety part) I just dont know what to say. I’d love to say "well I’m F***ed up in the head!" but that doesnt feel appropriate. Thanks 
Maybe all your head needs is a change of environment. A little more sunshine can be found somewhere else.
I like the "F***ed up in the head" answer. Don’t mince words.