stress management program

Behavioral Health: Anxiety Disorders

Posted on by Mark Moran

Anxiety is one of the most common mental and emotional ailments clients face.  Ironically, anxiety is natural part of life.  It is intimately tied to the nervous system to help push individuals.  Just like stress, it can help serve individuals to meet deadlines, face problems, and persevere under pressure.  To remove all stress and stressors would be a bad thing in life, as well as to remove all future angst about future issues.  Anxiety itself is ontological and part of one’s being.  It is part of being alive (McRay, 2016).

Anxiety disorders require a disproportionate reaction to anxiety. Please also review AIHCP’s behavioral health certifications

The DSM-V-TR defines anxiety as “anticipation of future threat (2022)”.  However, when anxiety is not proportionate with the actual threat, then it becomes a malignant worry.  It creates a negative mood, but the mood becomes excessive and creates a variety of somatic physiological symptoms and tensions when it becomes a disorder (Barlow, et al., 2023).  So, if a student has anxiety the night before an exam, this is not reflective of an anxiety disorder, but a true reflection of potential worry of not passing the exam, however, if a student exhibits consistent worry about not being good enough to succeed in life and this filters into almost every venue of life, then one can see where anxiety can unravel into pathology.

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certification programs in mental health.

Causes of Anxiety Disorders

How one reacts and handles stressors and future problems is key to living a successful life.  It is not about not feeling these interior movements, but being able to cope with them and maintain them within normal levels.  There are biological, psychological and social conditions that need to be considered to explain why some individuals are more prone to anxiety disorders than others.  Biologically, individuals with anxiety disorders have lower levels of gamma-aminobutryic acid (GABA) which helps keep the neurons from firing and hence keeps individuals calmer (Barlow, et al., 2023).  In addition, some individuals have issues within the limbic system and its association with fight of flight.  An overstressed autonomic nervous system can keep a person’s sympathetic branch more alert and on fire due to past trauma.  While PTSD is now considered a trauma disorder, anxiety is still closely tied to PTSD, and individuals suffering from a variety of anxiety disorders also experience overactive sympathetic branches (Barlow, et al., 2023).

Psychologically, there are different interpretations for why anxiety exists in some and not others.  Psychoanalytic schools of Freud see anxiety a severe mechanical break down of systems.  Freud considered anxiety to be an internal warning sign of the ego regarding subconscious conflicts or forbidden impulses. Behaviorists considered anxiety to be due to learned behavior regarding modeling from others or cognitively through uncorrelated ideas about the self and one’s surroundings (McRay, 2016).   Parents who teach their child control and predictability also help create a healthy mindset for healthier thoughts about life, coping and resiliency (Barlow, et al., 2023).   In addition, parents who are overbearing and controlling, impede the child’s ability to become resilient and also incur interior fears about life that can later manifest as anxiety.

Social factors also play a key role in one’s dance with anxiety.  Past traumatic events can weaken the autonomic nervous system.  In addition, numerous losses, as well as interpersonal distresses ranging from divorce to loss of a family member can lower one’s ability to resist future anxiety disorders.  These disorders then can effect other aspects of social functioning (Barlow, et al., 2022).

Spiritually, one’s faith can also play as a key anchor against anxiety.  In fact, any world view or existential meaning in life can help one find security in times of angst.  Existentialist philosophy teaches that the world is filled with trouble, loss and anxiety but it how one faces it that determines one’s control of life direction.  Instead of avoidance, hiding, or fear, world views can help individuals find courage, fortitude and faith in their direction.

An integrated model for anxiety vulnerability best illustrates why some succumb to anxiety disorders and others do not.  One must look a diathesis models that look at genetic vulnerabilities, life stressors, and mental and cognitive world views that all come together to overwhelm an individual.  Biological vulnerabilities include inherited traits.  Generalized psychological vulnerabilities include world views, such as believing the world is a dangerous and unsafe place.  Finally, specific psychological vulnerabilities are what one learns from individual experience or what is taught in childhood (Barlow, et al., 2022).  When an event occurs that challenges everything, some individuals may be weakened enough to enter into a disproportionate response of anxiety.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

The DSM-V-TR lists a variety of anxiety disorders, including GAD, SAD, phobias, panic disorder, and separation anxiety

The DSM-V-TR lists 7 anxiety disorders.  Again, it is important to notate, OCD and PSTD are no longer listed with core anxiety disorders albeit they exhibit anxious symptoms and are closely related.  In addition, hoarding and various picking at self disorders are tied with OCD. The manual follows life span development as its means of listing order for anxiety, as well as all disorders.  It lists Separation Anxiety, Selective Mutism, Phobia, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, General Anxiety, and Substance/Meditation-Induced Anxiety Disorder (DSM-V-TR, 2022).

In this short blog, we will look at General Anxiety Disorder (GAD), phobias, Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD),  Panic Disorders with Agoraphobia and Separation Anxiety.  Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Program.

GAD

General Anxiety Disorder involves unsubstantiated worry over numerous dimensions of life and is not just tied to one thing, such as an attachment to one person, or how one is viewed in public.  The disturbances are excessive in nature and occurring for more days than not over a period of 6 months.  The individual is unable to stop or control worrying.  The symptoms are tied to restlessness or being on edge, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension and sleep disturbance.  The DSM-V-TR states that only 3 or more of these symptoms are required.  Key to the diagnosis is that the anxiety causes extreme impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (DSM-V-TR, 2022).  GAD is also associated with increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors.  It also can have a comorbidity with depression disorders.  Anxiety is usually tied at a higher percentage to women but also occurs in men.

Selective Phobias

Phobias are unrealistic reactions to things that cause heightened anxiety even without the object or thing or place present.  Natural to survival and the autonomic nervous system is the reaction to fear through the sympathetic branch and its fight or flight responses.  Hence fear is a negative effect within the sympathetic nervous system that alarms the body to present danger (Barlow, et al., 2023). It is important to note that many fears that become phobias are tied to natural biological and evolutional reactions.  Avoiding the dark, or being careful in high places, or be cautious around potential poisonous creatures as snakes or spiders are good things but phobias hijack the sympathetic nervous system and cause disproportionate anxiety to these things even when they are not present.  Phobias are coded in the DSM-V-TR according to animals such as snakes or spiders, natural environment such as heights, water or storms, blood injection-injury such bodily fluids, needles, or injections, or situational such as airplanes, elevators or enclosed places (2022).

Diagnosis involves a heightened and fearful anxiety regarding any of the listed phobias.  The situation or thing must always provoke immediate anxiety or fear.  These things or places are actively avoided or endured with intense fear.  The fear or anxiety is out of proportion with the reality of danger.  The fear or anxiety is persistent for 6 months are more.  The fear or anxiety causes social impairment in social, occupational or other areas of functioning and these symptoms are not explained through other mental or substance issues (DSM-V-TR, 2022).

SAD

Social anxiety disorder is anxiety that is disproportionate based on social implications of performance, speaking, or being in social settings.  Ironically, for some performers, regular social settings may not cause anxiety but for others everyday interaction in social settings, even if they are not speaking or performing can cause anxiety.  Hence these individuals become extremely nervous even in school, or parties, or other events.  It revolves around perceptions of how they perceive they are seen, or viewed by others.  A microscopic lens is placed over every action or word they say.  This may be due to fear of rejection, embarrassment or ridicule.  While again, it is natural sometimes to feel some anxiety within social norms in everyday life or if performing the next day, the anxiety associated with SAD impairs functioning.  It overtakes the person and causes intense somatic symptoms even upon the thought of social activity.  In addition, panic attacks can associate with SAD prior to an event or during a social setting.   Many sometimes will completely avoid functions, or mask it with substance abuse issues.  Social anxiety disorders are more highly diagnosed with women and also children entered into their teen age years but can happen to both men and women.

Sometimes closely tied to SAD is body image.  Since SAD focuses on anxiety surrounding on perceptions of others, Body Dysmorphic Disorder can play a big role especially in teens.  BDD focuses on minute or even non-existent perceived flaws in the body.  This subjective issue becomes a obsessive pursuit through various compulsions to alter or make better these small blemishes.   For some, this disorder is then tied to SAD.

The DSM-V-TR utilizes the following diagnosis criteria.  It lists marked fear or anxiety regarding one or more social interactions that expose an individual to possible scrutiny that involves conversations, social events, dates, meeting unfamiliar people, as well being observed by others.  The manual notes that individuals feel they will be negatively evaluated, humiliated, or embarrassed or rejected.  The social settings must always provoke fear or anxiety.  In addition, the individual will look to avoid these settings and the fear and anxiety is out of proportion with the actual sociocultural context.  The fear or anxiety must present itself for 6 months or more and causes intense impairment.  These conditions are not attributed to other mental disorders or substances (2022).

Panic Disorders and Agoraphobia

Panic disorders are continual and persistent panic attacks.  Arogaphobia is fear of public places with crowds due to the fear of possible panic attacks.  Both are separate disorders but are tied closely together due to the nature of panic attacks. Panic disorder according to the DSM-V-TR is a recurrent phenomenon where an abrupt level of anxiety manifests within minutes.  It can be expected or triggered or even unexpected in some cases.  The attacks can occur one per week for months, or less frequent attacks separated by weeks or months.  Not all panic attacks are tied to Panic Disorder since some panic attacks are tied to Social Anxiety Disorder.  Panic Disorder and panic attacks cause somatic physiological symptoms that include palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, feelings of choking, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, chills or heat sensations, paresthesias, derealization, and fear of loss of control or dying (2022).   The DSM-V-TR also states that anxiety and fear over future panic attacks are followed within the month, especially in regards to the symptoms, as well as maladaptive measures to avoid future panic attacks (2022).  Of course, these disturbances are not due to any other diagnosed mental issue or substance or medication.

Those who suffer with Agoraphobia fear public situations where possible panic attacks could occur and the embarrassment or issues that may occur if in a public area because of it.  The DSM-V-TR lists public transportation, open public spaces like super markets or parking lots, enclosed places like theatres, large crowds or standing in line, or being alone outside of the home.  The person faces extreme anxiety over these thoughts and will actively look to avoid these places to the point of impairing one’s social, professional and academic life.  The fear is disproportionate, persistent and lasts for over 6 months and is not caused due to other diagnosed mental illness, substance or medication (2022).

Separation Anxiety 

Separation anxiety deals with intense disproportionate fear and dread of being separated from a caregiver, loved one, or a child.  It is more common in children but can also manifest in adults with children.  This should not be misinterpreted for natural anxiety after a traumatic event or even a new parent, but is a persistent and disproportionate reaction that involves fear and dread of losing a loved on or something bad happening to oneself when the loved one is not present.   Traumatic events, unhealthy attachments as a child, or overbearing parenting can lead to potential development of Separation Anxiety Disorder.

The DSM-V-TR states criteria for diagnosis states that excessive fear or anxiety regarding anxiety must manifest in three or more examples.  Recurrent or inappropriate fear when anticipating or experiencing separation. Persistent worry about losing a major attachment figure to illness, injury, disaster or death.  Worry of kidnapping, accidents, illness, or unfounded events.  Refusal to go other places for fear of separation with figure.  Persistent fear about being alone with the other figure.  Trouble sleeping without or being away from home without the other figure.  Repeated nightmares involving the scheme of separation with the figure and somatic physiological ailments such as headaches, stomach aches, vomiting and nausea stemming from the anxiety (2022).  These issues must persist for 6 months in adults and 4 weeks in children and cause impairment in all social spheres of life.  Again, it cannot be attributed to other mental illness, substance or medication.

Treatment

Psychotherapy, medications and holistic approaches can help individuals overcome anxiety issues. Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Program

In all of these cases of anxiety, suicidal ideation can be a symptom to closely monitor.  Obviously, some individuals will exhibit mild, moderate or severe and need treatments based on their individual needs.  In addition, it is important during treatment to be aware of any comorbidities such as depression that may exist with presenting problem or diagnosis.   It is also important to be mindful of cultural aspects that can normalize certain actions that may seem abnormal to other cultures.  Finally, it is important to be delicate in diagnosis to prevent labeling and other mental health stigma (DSM-V-TR, 2022).

In clinical settings, Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT) are the most utilized behavioral therapy to help the person reframe and rethink their anxieties.   Some individuals with Anxiety Disorders  have a recognition of of illogical thinking despite the feelings and can rationalize while others have differing levels of lack of logical thinking and are completely controlled by these thoughts.  For instance, an adult with Separation Anxiety Disorder may acknowledge the improbability of bad things occurring to loved a one but still feel the anxiety while others may be completely under the delusion that something will happen.  This happens also in cases of hoarding and OCD.   CBT can help individuals better rationally reframe reality from fantasy and help individuals rethink what they are experiencing.  For instance, someone who is facing Social Anxiety Disorder, may be able to reframe negative images and perceptions of what others are thinking into positive and more likely things, or even recognize that their perception of being the center of attention is not a reality.  In regards to phobia, exposure therapies are a key way to help individuals face exaggerated anxiety.  Many behaviorists believe that pathology is tied to operant and classical conditioning during childhood.  How someone was raised or how their behavior was influenced plays key roles to phobias and anxiety.  With phobias, new learned experiences can help reshape the neuroplasticity of the brain and how it perceives threats.  Exposure therapies gradually create new experiences (Barlow, et al., 2022).

In addition to CBT and other cognitive behaviors, pharmacological treatments can help alleviate anxiety.  Benzodiazaphines can help GABA levels become more stable and calm the person (McRay, 2016).  Xanax, as well as Ativan can help alleviate the intense lack of calm and anxiousness and help the person find peace but it is important to note that long term use of these drugs exceeding 2 weeks or a month can lead to addiction.  Hence these drugs are more for acute purposes instead of long term treatment.  Many issues associated with anxiety is also tied with serotonin levels.  SRRI can play a role in helping regulate mood.  Paxil is a common drug used to help individuals with anxiety that can be used long term and help regulate mood (Barlow, et al., 2023).

Other holistic and natural remedies can also be utilized.  Supplements for GABA under the care of a healthcare professional can be utilized as well as calming techniques, meditation, and prayer.  In addition, hypnosis and EFT can also play key roles in helping manage anxiety.  Please review AIHCP’s EFT Practitioner Program

From a Pastoral approach, pastoral care givers should be ready to refer clients to clinical professionals but they can also aid with coping skills, reframing, and helping individuals find meaning.  For Christians, biblical approaches that tie the person to the life of Christ and how biblical characters faced anxiety can be modeling examples.  In addition, how does one’s faith approach anxiety and worry?  Analyzing faith and teachings can help build resiliency within the person.  Spirituality is many times forgotten or swept under the rug, but spirituality plays a key role in how one thinks and feels in life.  It is hence important to include pastoral approaches that address existential and spiritual explanations for anxiety in life (McRay, 2016).

Conclusion

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications

Anxiety is natural but also the most common mental malady.  Diagnosis is not a simple process but a complex one.  While all these disorders differ in some degree, the primary culprit is a disproportionate anxiety response.  Causes can range from biological, psychological, social and spiritual in nature.  Helping others understand and sometimes helping them at a medical level is key to helping control and maintain anxiety.

Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program as well as AIHCP’s multiple healthcare certifications in grief, crisis, anger, meditation, trauma informed care and spiritual counseling.

Additional AIHCP Blogs

Stress Management and Anxiety Disorders,  Click here

EFT and Anxiety.  Access here

Additional Resources

Anxiety Disorders.  Mayo Clinic.  Access here

Anxiety Disorders.  Cleveland Clinic.  Access here

Guy, Evans, O. (2025). “7 Types of Anxiety Disorders: Signs, Causes, & Management”. Simply Psychology.  Access here

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder” DSM-5-TR (5th ed., text revision). American Psychiatric Association Publishing.

Barlow, D.H., Durand, V.M., & Hofmann, S.G. (2023). Psychopathology. An integrative approach to mental disorder (9th  ed.). Cengage Learning

McRay, B.W., Yarhouse, M.A., Butman, R.E., & Kiple, C. (2016). Modern psychopathologies: A comprehensive Christian appraisal. (2nd, ed.) IVP Academic

 

Anxiety Disorders and Stress Management Video Blog

Posted on by Mark Moran

Anxiety disorders can range from general to social.  Other types such as OCD or particular phobias can also emerge.  Anxiety in itself is merely either an exaggerated and lingering response to a stressor or an entirely uncaused emotional disturbance within that has one nervous or feeling impending doom for no reason.  Anxiety can cause severe problems for individuals both personally and socially.  Helping others with anxiety is key.  This video looks at anxiety but also how to help via stress management

Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program. Please click here

Dental Anxiety and Mindful Meditation

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Stressful events upset our inner self.  They cause anxiety, worry and mental anguish.  Life stress which occurs daily but is not necessarily deadly is the one of the worst stresses because it causes the same inner reactions than life threatening stress.  The body reacts and activates the Fight or Flight Response which in turn informs the adrenal glands to produce various hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine to prepare the body for a struggle.  The heart rate increases, the blood vessels constrict, the muscles tighten and any resources are utilized to prepare the body to defend, flee or fight.

Many individuals suffer severe anxiety with dental visits. Please also review AICHP’s Meditation Instructor Program

 

It is hence very important to mentally calm oneself when mundane day to day events occur.  Mindfulness is one way to do this.  Meditation and relaxation in the moment is key to keeping the inner systems of the body calmer.  It is about recognizing the situation, the stress itself, and also subjectively modifying one’s response to it.  Hence it is cognitive but also physiological.   One utilizes the meditation to activate the body’s Parasympathetic System which reverses many of the Fight or Fight reactions found in the Sympathetic System.   Through this, the blood pressure lowers, the heart rate decreases, the vessels relax, the muscles unconstrict and the mind finds ease.  Fortunately, anyone can learn Mindfulness Meditation and apply this to everyday situations.

One stressful situation that this can be applied to is the visit to the dentist.  For many, there is a true fear and trauma in visiting the dentist.  Maybe a child one had a difficult experience, or even as an adult, one fears any type of medical procedure.   As each day becomes closer to the appointment there can be a build up of anxiety and stress.  The body and mind become more occupied with the visit and stressed hence producing a stress response in the body.  The day of the appointment, the anxiety may even be higher and upon arrival, one may in a high state of stress.   Mindfulness Meditation can help negate the effects of stress on the body and help ease the mind prior to a visit.

In the article, “How Mindfulness Can Ease Your Dental Anxiety. Even if You Don’t Love Meditating” by Heather Beasley Doyle, the usefulness of Mindfulness prior to dental visits is explored.  The article speaks of an interview with a dental professional who utilized Mindfulness not only for dental students but also as a way to help patients better prepare for their visit.  The article states,

 “For patients anticipating a stressful procedure, I think diaphragmatic breathing is probably the most effective, easiest way to ease their anxiety. It’s called the three-part breath. It uses  the diaphragm, the lungs, and then the upper chest. You start by breathing from the belly, into your lungs, and then you lift your collarbone as you breathe into your chest. Then you exhale on a long slow breath that’s twice as long as the inhale. It engages the parasympathetic nervous system, and it’s a very conscious and effective way to relax the body, the nervous system, and to focus the mind.”

“How Mindfulness Can Ease Your Dental Anxiety. Even if You Don’t Love Meditating”.  Beasley Doyle, H. (2023). Tufts Now.

To review the entire article, please click here

Commentary

Dentist anxiety, also known as dental phobia or odontophobia, is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by intense fear or anxiety related to dental visits and procedures. This fear can be so overwhelming that it prevents individuals from seeking necessary dental care, leading to a decline in their oral health.

The impact of dentist anxiety on oral health is significant. Avoiding dental visits can result in untreated dental problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, and oral infections. Neglecting oral health can also lead to more serious conditions, including tooth loss and systemic health issues like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

The benefits of meditation for managing anxiety

Meditation, a practice that involves focusing the mind and achieving a state of calm and relaxation, has been proven to be an effective tool for managing anxiety. It offers a wide range of benefits for both mental and physical well-being. Regular meditation practice can help reduce stress, promote emotional stability, enhance self-awareness, and improve overall health.

When it comes to dentist anxiety, meditation can be particularly beneficial. By calming the mind and soothing the nervous system, meditation can help individuals manage their fears and anxieties associated with dental visits. It allows individuals to cultivate a sense of inner peace and tranquility, making it easier to face dental procedures with a greater sense of calm and control.

How meditation can specifically help with dentist anxiety

Meditation provides a variety of specific techniques and approaches that can help individuals overcome dentist anxiety. One such technique is mindfulness meditation, which involves focusing one’s attention on the present moment without judgment. By practicing mindfulness, individuals can learn to observe their anxious thoughts and emotions without getting caught up in them. This allows for a greater sense of detachment and a reduction in the intensity of anxiety.

Mindful Meditation can help ease the anxiety of visiting the dentist.

 

Another helpful meditation technique is guided imagery. This involves visualizing positive and calming images, such as serene landscapes or peaceful scenes, to create a sense of relaxation and well-being. By engaging the imagination in this way, individuals can create a mental escape from their dental anxieties and replace them with more positive and calming thoughts.

Breathing exercises are also commonly used in meditation to promote relaxation. Deep, slow breathing can help activate the body’s relaxation response and reduce anxiety. By focusing on the breath during dental procedures, individuals can maintain a state of calm and reduce the physical symptoms associated with anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat and tense muscles.

Techniques for incorporating meditation into your dental routine

Incorporating meditation into your dental routine can help make dental visits more manageable and less anxiety-provoking. Here are some techniques to consider:

  1. Pre-dental meditation: Before your dental appointment, set aside a few minutes to practice meditation. Find a quiet space where you can sit comfortably and focus on your breath or use guided meditation apps or videos specifically designed for dental anxiety. This can help you enter the dental office with a calmer state of mind.
  2. During dental procedures: Practice mindfulness and deep breathing during dental procedures. Focus on your breath and try to keep your attention in the present moment. Whenever anxiety arises, acknowledge it without judgment and gently bring your attention back to your breath. This can help distract your mind from anxious thoughts and promote a sense of relaxation.
  3. Post-dental meditation: After your dental visit, take some time to relax and restore your calm. Spend a few minutes engaging in a mindfulness practice or listening to a guided meditation that focuses on relaxation and self-care. This can help you process any residual anxiety and maintain a positive mindset towards future dental visits.

Finding the right meditation style for you

There are various meditation styles to choose from, and finding the one that resonates with you is essential for overcoming dentist anxiety. Here are a few popular styles to consider:

  1. Mindfulness meditation: This style focuses on being fully present in the moment and observing thoughts and emotions without judgment. It can help build resilience to anxious thoughts and cultivate a sense of calm.
  2. Loving-kindness meditation: This practice involves directing well-wishes and compassion towards oneself and others. It can foster feelings of self-acceptance and reduce self-criticism, which can be helpful for managing dental anxiety.
  3. Transcendental meditation: Transcendental meditation involves the use of a mantra or repeated sound to achieve a state of deep relaxation. It can help calm the mind and reduce anxiety.

Experiment with different meditation styles and see which one resonates with you the most. Remember that meditation is a personal practice, and what works for one person may not work for another. Find the style that brings you the most peace and tranquility.

Additional strategies for overcoming dentist anxiety

In addition to meditation, there are several other strategies you can employ to overcome dentist anxiety:

  1. Communication with your dentist: Openly discuss your fears and anxieties with your dentist. A compassionate and understanding dentist can help alleviate your concerns and create a more comfortable dental experience for you.
  2. Gradual exposure: If your anxiety is severe, consider gradually exposing yourself to dental visits. Start with short, non-invasive procedures and gradually work your way up to more complex treatments. This incremental approach can help desensitize you to dental anxiety over time.
  3. Relaxation techniques: In addition to meditation, practice other relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or listening to calming music. These techniques can help you relax before, during, and after dental visits.
  4. Distraction techniques: Engage in activities that distract your mind during dental procedures. Bring a book, listen to music, or use noise-canceling headphones to focus on something other than the dental environment.

The link between stress and oral health

It is essential to recognize the link between stress and oral health. Stress can have a detrimental impact on oral health by contributing to conditions such as bruxism (teeth grinding), temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), and gum disease. By managing stress through meditation and other stress-reduction techniques, you can significantly improve your oral health and overall well-being.

Tips for maintaining a healthy smile despite anxiety

Despite experiencing dentist anxiety, it is crucial to prioritize your oral health. Here are some tips for maintaining a healthy smile:

  1. Maintain a consistent oral hygiene routine: Brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, and use mouthwash to keep your teeth and gums healthy. A clean mouth reduces the risk of dental problems and promotes overall oral health.
  2. Eat a balanced diet: Opt for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products. This ensures that your teeth receive the essential nutrients they need to stay strong and healthy.
  3. Limit sugary foods and drinks: Sugary foods and drinks can contribute to tooth decay and other dental problems. Limit your consumption of sugary snacks, sodas, and candies to protect your teeth.
  4. Schedule regular dental check-ups: Regular dental check-ups are essential for maintaining good oral health. By visiting your dentist regularly, you can catch any dental issues early and prevent them from progressing into more severe problems.

Seeking professional help for dentist anxiety

The dentist visit for many can be overwhelming. Some may need counseling and help in managing stress.

 

If your dentist anxiety is severe and significantly impacts your daily life, it may be beneficial to seek professional help. A mental health professional experienced in treating anxiety disorders can provide you with the necessary tools and techniques to manage your dental phobia effectively. They can guide you through exposure therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or other evidence-based treatments to help you overcome your fears.

Remember, you are not alone in your dental anxiety, and there is no shame in seeking help. Your oral health is essential, and by addressing your anxiety, you can ensure that you receive the dental care you need for a healthy smile.

Conclusion: Embracing meditation as a tool for oral health and overall well-being

Meditation is a powerful practice that can help individuals overcome dentist anxiety and achieve a healthy smile. By incorporating meditation techniques into your dental routine, you can manage anxiety, reduce stress, and promote a sense of calm during dental visits. Finding the right meditation style for you is key, as everyone’s experience with anxiety is unique. Additionally, employing other strategies such as communication with your dentist, gradual exposure, and relaxation techniques can further support your journey towards overcoming dentist anxiety.

Remember, your oral health is a vital component of your overall well-being. By prioritizing your dental care and seeking professional help if needed, you can embrace meditation as a valuable tool for maintaining a healthy smile and living a happier, more anxiety-free life.

Please review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Program as well as AIHCP’s Stress Management Consultant Program

 

Please also review AIHCP’s Meditation Instructor Program, as well as AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program.  Both programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification.  Please review the Meditation and Stress programs and see if they meet your academic and professional goals.

Additional Resources

“Coping with Dental Anxiety”. Higuera, V. (2021). Healthline.  Access here

“Easing Dental Fear in Adults”. WebMD Medical Contributers. ( 2021). WebMD. Access here

“How To Deal With Dental Anxiety”. HealthEssentials. (2023). Cleveland Clinic.  Access here

“What to know about dental anxiety”. Fletcher, J. (2022). Medical News Today. Access here

Stress Management Video on PTSD Part III

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

PTSD is unprocessed trauma due to a horrific event.  Learning to finally face that trauma and move forward is an important step.  Learning to process and again learn to trust and have productive relationships are important.  Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.

 

 

Please review the video below

Stress Management Consulting Program Video on PTSD

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is trauma that is not processed.  It is due to trauma that is so severe that it leaves an imprint that the brain at the moment is not able to process into long term memory.  As a result, it is unfragmented and haunts the person as if it never ends and continues to occur.

Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals

Parental Stress and Managing It

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

A very large stressor is children.  Parents deal with stress of their children and adult children their whole lives.  Different ages and different times present different and unique challenges in parenting, but overall, the stress of having children and raising them is a challenge.  Parents need to learn how to cope with stress and juggle the issues of parenting with their own life to stay afloat in life.  This can be a difficult endeavor.  Many parents need to better organize, prepare and react to the stress children can play upon it.  Ultimately in the end, the hard work and long hours can pay off to a successful child rearing.

Stress Management techniques can also help parents better cope with stress.  This includes time management, time alone, meditation, and having a strong support system to rely upon.  Unfortunately for those parents without a support system, coping can be even more difficult and hence time management and meditation can play huge roles.

Parental stress comes at any age and has different challenges with each age. Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Program

 

The article, “Here’s How to Navigate Parenting Stress” by Madeline Brown takes a closer look at managing stress associated with parenting.  In the article, she lists the primary causes of parent stress and how to identify it.  She also lists on ways to better cope and find the necessary assistance.  She states,

“Stress is a poor boundary keeper. Work stress doesn’t stay confined to the office. Financial worries don’t magically go away when your child is sick and sleepless. The parenting journey is naturally peppered with seasons of heightened stress and worry — from the sleepless newborn stage to the teenage rebellion years and beyond. A list of what doesn’t cause parenting stress might be shorter. Nevertheless, these are common factors that can make parenting stress worse:”

“Here’s How to Navigate Parenting Stress”. Madeline Brown.  January 6th, 2022. Psych Central.

To read the entire article, please click here

Commentary

Parenting will always be stressful but it is also rewarding.  Parents can learn to balance what is merely an annoyance with what truly should concern their time.  Many parental stressors are minor daily things or small accidents.  Depending on the age, children will spill, or teens will have a bad grade, but these are parts of natural growth in life.  Parents need to be able to categorize these things and understand when to be angry, stressed, or just fix the situation.  Parents also need to know how to categorize short term and long term needs of children and what focus to give certain tasks priority over.

It does not help that many parents have other issues as well. Many issues from work, or relationships can emerge and make it harder to handle the work at home.  Tasks and chores can pile up, especially for parents without much assistance.  This can only begin to bury the parent in more responsibilities.   To shave off some of these issues, time management is critically important for any parent as well as schedules for their child of any age.

When small issues become larger issues is when the true stress of parenting can emerge.  Bad behavior, drugs, or problems with the law are all possibilities.  These types of stressors cannot be simply brushed to the side and must be dealt with.  It is important to know when a stressor is a legitimate issue which is going to demand the parent’s time and abilities.  Other stressors can include finances, school costs, care cost, and other care giving responsibilities.  Many parents stay up late at night thinking how they will better care for and afford their child or children’s needs.  It can be quite frightful but through management and structure, one can find a way to the goal line in raising a productive young adult.

But if you think parenting ends at 18, then you are in for a surprise. Parentings adult children also comes with many stresses.  Parents can worry about the success of their children, career options, or college success.  Adult children who never grow up can be a constant stress on parents in their older years.

It is important for parents of any age to always look towards self care.  Self care involves being able to look at oneself and ensure physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs are met.  It may seem like there is no time for this, but it is important to try to find the time.  Whether its a half hour of meditation a day, or having counseling or a massage,  it is critical to find the self care.  Burnout can occur in anything and parenting is no exception.  Dealing with burnout properly and finding the support and help one needs is critical for the entirety of the family.  This is again why self care is so important.

Obviously beyond the self care, parenting should also be viewed not as only stressful but also rewarding.  Enjoying time with your children and doing exciting things can rewrite the narrative that is always a job but also a beautiful vocation of sharing love.

Conclusion

Parenting is the toughest job on the planet.  It does not come with a manual or instructions but involves giving one’s entire self, both heart and soul into ensuring the welfare and success of the child. In its very nature, parenting is stressful but levels of stress can be managed by assorting what is merely daily to what is an immediate issue.  At whatever age, try to enjoy the ride and let one’s love of their child or children dictate the pace but remember, self care is always important and parents sometimes need a break too.

Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consulting Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as a Stress Management Consultant.

Additional Resources

“Parenting stress: What causes it, and how does it change us?”. 2020 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D, Parenting Science.  Access here

“Parental Stress is Key Contributor to Development of Children’s Mental Illness”. Krystal Jagoo. January 11th, 2022. Verywellmind.  Access here

“4 Tips for Managing Parenting Stress”. Erlanger A. Turner Ph.D. June 24th, 2013. Psychology Today.  Access here

“Parental Burnout and Stress”. Psychology Today Staff.  Psychology Today. Access here

 

Stress Management Program Article on Work and Home Stress Balance

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

With life, a proper balance with work and life is critical to optimal health.  When this balance is not achieved, bad things occur.  On the extreme of over work, the imbalance leads to multiple stresses that come home with the individual.  These stresses can overtime become chronic and unhealthy for the individual.  Burnout can become a common end result.

Work and home life need to be balanced to avoid stress. please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Program

 

It is important for workers to understand the need for relaxation and home life and to properly balance life with work.

The article, “How To Offset Stress And Achieve Work-Life Balance” by Ed Beltran looks closer at how to balance work and life to avoid burnout.  He states,

“As if the world wasn’t stressful enough, the pandemic brought greater challenges to the often-elusive work-life balance. One of the biggest challenges was the transition from office life to the solitude of working remotely. Parents suddenly had to learn how to teach their children at home while maintaining the same productivity at work as before. Moreover, millions of Americans united in the fight for equality and civil rights.”

To read the entire article, please click here

Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.  The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification.

Stress Management Consulting Program Article on Stress Reduction Tips

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Stress can make life difficult.  It can prevent productivity, affect emotional and physical health and strain relationships.  It is important to control stress.  There are many ways to learn how to control stress and one needs to find the best methods for oneself

Learning to manage stress can help in all facets of life. Please also review AIHCP’s Stress Management Consultant program

 

The article, “Twelve Tips to Reduce Stress” by Don Doman looks at twelve ways one can reduce stress.  He states,

“Being able to recognize common stress symptoms can help you manage them. Stress that’s left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes”

To read the entire article, please click here

Reducing stress is important.  Learning how and reviewing these twelve tips could help reduce stress and help have a more tranquil life.  To learn more about Stress Management, please review AICHP’s Stress Management Consultant Program.  Stress Management Consultants can help others learn to manage stress and have more productive lives.  The program is online, independent study and open enrollment.  It leads to a four year certification in Stress Management

 

 

Stress Management Consulting Program Article on Burnout

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Burnout can happen to even the most energetic and optimistic person.  Over work, heavy schedule, stress and sickness can all lead to a burnout.  If someone pushes him or herself too much, it can happen suddenly.  Burnout can be avoided by properly scheduling oneself and setting limitations.  It can also be avoided by taking time to take care of oneself.  It is important to give self care for one’s own health.

Identifying burnout before it hits is critical to health. Please also review our Stress Management Consulting Program

 

The article, “Prevent burnout – 3 burnout symptoms and how to avoid them” by Thea O’Connor reviews the various issues surrounding burnout and how to avoid and also overcome it.  She states,

“Burnout affects about 5-7 per cent of the working population, according to Michael Leiter, professor of industrial and organisational psychology at Deakin University. Leiter explains that it is difficult to say if the condition is on the rise, since burnout has not been tracked over time, and is likely to be hidden in the “mental stress” category of workers’ compensation claims.”

To read the entire article on burnout, please click here

Burnout can happen suddenly to someone who constantly is doing too much.  It is important to notice the signs.  Also, please review our Stress Management Consulting Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.

Stress Management Consulting Program Article on Stress Eating

Posted on by Dominick Flarey

Stress and eating can go hand and hand.  Many people cope with stress in different ways.  Eating can be a very unhealthy way to deal with stress if it is consistent and in large amounts.  It can deviate one from regular exercise and lead to bad dietary habits.

Does stress lead you to unhealthy eating habits? Please also review our Stress Management Consulting Program and see if it meets your academic needs

The article, “Stress-eating: Five strategies to slow down” by  Kelly Bilodeau states,

“Weight gain has many underlying causes but one of the most common is something we all experience: stress. Whether it’s the, mild temporary kind caused by a traffic jam or major and chronic, triggered by a traumatic life event — stress is no friend to your waistline”

To learn more about stress and eating, please review the article by clicking here

Please also review our Stress Management Consulting Program, as well as our Holistic Nurse program and see if they match your academic and professional goals.