Being exposed to fear triggers during sleep may help treat phobias
Scientists conditioned subjects to associate certain smells to images they feared while sleeping (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)
Source: Health News: CBSNews.com - September 23, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Fighting fears possible during sleep, study shows
For many patients with phobias, typical treatment involves gradual exposure to the feared object or situation. But researchers have now found that emotional memory can be manipulated during sleep, paving the way to new phobia treatments as we dream. The researchers, from Northwestern University, published the results of their study in the journal Nature Neuroscience. They note that previous projects have demonstrated spatial learning and motor sequence learning can be strengthened during sleep, but until now, emotional memory has never been manipulated during slumber... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - September 23, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia Source Type: news
Calming fear during sleep
(Northwestern University) A fear memory was reduced in people by exposing them to the memory over and over again while they slept. It's the first time that emotional memory has been manipulated during sleep, report scientists. The finding potentially offers a new way to enhance the typical daytime treatment of phobias through exposure therapy by adding a nighttime component. A common treatment for phobias is gradual exposure to the feared object until the fear is extinguished. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - September 22, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Phobias may be cured by watching others, study shows
Whether it is a fear of spiders, snakes or heights, many of us have phobias that we would love to be rid of for good. Now, a new study suggests that we can, by watching other individuals interact with the object or scenario that frightens us. Researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden say that experiencing our fears through the actions of another person may be more effective than trying to combat our fears directly, and it could even prevent them from resurfacing. Previous studies have suggested that social forms of learning may trigger phobias, the researchers say... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - September 17, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Psychology / Psychiatry Source Type: news
18 & Under: To Help a Shy Child, Listen
Shyness is part of the range of the human normal, but it can also be an indicator of bullying, anxiety, a learning problem or other issues. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - September 16, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: By PERRI KLASS, M.D. Tags: Family 18 and Under Babies and Infants Phobias Featured Children and Childhood Anxiety and Stress Source Type: news
Well: To Help a Shy Child, Listen
Shyness is part of the range of the human normal, but it can also be an indicator of bullying, anxiety, a learning problem or other issues. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - September 16, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: By PERRI KLASS, M.D. Tags: Family 18 and Under Babies and Infants Phobias Featured Children and Childhood Anxiety and Stress Source Type: news
Diminishing fear vicariously by watching others
(Association for Psychological Science) Phobias -- whether it's fear of spiders, clowns, or small spaces -- are common and can be difficult to treat. New research suggests that watching someone else safely interact with the supposedly harmful object can help to extinguish these conditioned fear responses, and prevent them from resurfacing later on. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)
Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science - September 16, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
A step toward better targets for anxiety treatments
Anxiety disorders, which include post-traumatic stress disorder, social phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder, affect 40 million American adults in a given year. Currently available treatments, such as antianxiety drugs, are not always effective and have unwanted side effects. To develop better treatments, a more specific understanding of the brain circuits that produce anxiety is necessary, says Kay Tye, an assistant professor of brain and cognitive sciences and member of MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - August 25, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Anxiety / Stress Source Type: news
Afraid of Spiders? Try Sleeping on It
The therapist's couch may make an unexpected comeback—for taking a nap after sessions for phobias, anxiety and depression.read more (Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center)
Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center - August 13, 2013 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Daniel Freeman, Ph.D. and Jason Freeman Tags: Anxiety Depression Psychiatry Sleep arachnid CBT cognitive behavioural therapy computer headsets dread dual effect exposure therapy images of spiders insomnia irrational fears nature documentary new memories phobia Phobia Source Type: news
All the Bridges Falling Down
Our human brains are a complex cauldron of fears, illustrated by the nearly endless list of physical, social, and philosophical phobias such as alliumphobia (fear of garlic), apeirophobia (fear of infinity), and, yes, anthrophobia (fear of flowers). So maybe we should delineate unreasonable phobias from survival-related fears.read more (Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center)
Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center - July 11, 2013 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Ethan Gilsdorf Tags: Anxiety Health agency budgets blockbuster cambridge massachusetts climatic chaos deficient bridges disrepair ducklings falling falling from the sky fear of bridges fear of falling Fear of Heights magic carpet mental breakdown Source Type: news
Phobias: The rationale behind irrational fears | Dean Burnett
Phobias are very common, with many people admitting to being irrationally afraid of something. But where does this fear come from, and what can we do about it?Recently, this section featured an article about the tarantulaTyphochlaena costae. While the piece was very interesting, this was likely lost on some readers, as it's difficult to focus on details while distracted by the sound of your own screaming.Arachnophobia is one of the more well-known phobias and can be very potent. Searching the science section for some lunchtime reading is not the sort of activity that typically includes spiders, so to be suddenly confronted...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - June 28, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Dean Burnett Tags: Psychology Medical research Neuroscience Society Life and style Health Mental health & wellbeing Source Type: news
New Software System Could Help With Social Interactions, Social Phobias
Social phobias affect about 15 million adults in the United States, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, and surveys show that public speaking is high on the list of such phobias. For some people, these fears of social situations can be especially acute: For example, individuals with Asperger's syndrome often have difficulty making eye contact and reacting appropriately to social cues. But with appropriate training, such difficulties can often be overcome... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - June 18, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Psychology / Psychiatry Source Type: news
Hidden Disabilities
Dare to be yourself has a particular resonance for those of us with a hidden disability.
Mine happens to be hearing loss, but other hidden disabilities include depression and anxiety, phobias, food allergies, agoraphobia, fear of heights. You name it. And someone is reluctant to admit it.
read more (Source: Psychology Today Personality Center)
Source: Psychology Today Personality Center - June 17, 2013 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Katherine Bouton Tags: Personality Relationships 22 years aid users ambitious man dinner party egos faintest idea Fear of Heights food allergies hearing aid hearing aids hearing loss hidden disabilities hidden disability lucky ones New York Times Source Type: news
Getting a Grip on Anxiety
Have I got this right? Fear is a rational emotion, whereas panic and anxiety are not. But wait. Aren't panic and anxiety the same? "Anxiety" may sound more scientific than "panic," from the Greek god Pan, who liked to frighten sheep.read more (Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center)
Source: Psychology Today Anxiety Center - June 15, 2013 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: E. E. Smith Tags: Anxiety Health Therapy anxiety disorders blitz circumstances emotion experience nature generalized anxiety disorder genetic makeup greek god pan kinds of phobias Mayo Clinic motto nbsp obsessive compulsiveness panic and anx Source Type: news
New Phobia app helps users address their fears
Virtually Free, a UK-based technology start-up that recently launched the unique Stress Free app, has released its latest development Phobia Free. The app features high definition fully animated and voice-acted sessions that train the user in relaxation techniques and that explain what causes phobias. It then uses games and augmented reality to help users overcome [...] (Source: ANXIETY UK News)
Source: ANXIETY UK News - June 12, 2013 Category: Psychiatry Source Type: news
