Professional

“One thing that we know about PTSD is that most people following a trauma — specifically being confronted with, or personally experiencing, a life threatening situation — will actually have some of those symptoms that we might later call PTSD if they continue,” says Dr. Sheila Rauch (ADAA member), a major researcher in how PET works, Professor of Psychology at Emory University, and the Director of Research and Program Evaluation at the VA Atlanta Healthcare System.

HelloGiggles asked psychologist Dr. Jenny Yip (ADAA member) every question about OCD that we could think of in hopes of wiping away some of that stigma and misunderstanding. Dr. Yip is a specialist in OCD who founded the Renewed Freedom Center in Los Angeles, an OCD and anxiety-focused treatment facility. Along with providing patient treatment, Dr. Yip shares her expertise on social media and in her podcast, The Stress-Less Life, to help end the stigma surrounding mental illness.

Sometimes parents who seek consultation with me about their child’s worries or fears are surprised to learn that the child has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). “But she doesn’t wash her hands all the time…” Or they do not realize that certain symptoms are part of OCD.

ADAA member Michelle Witkin, PhD outlines what to look for and tips and strategies for coping with your child's OCD. 

... there are some sleep trackers, sleep apps and natural sleep aids that can make dozing off — and staying asleep — a little bit easier. ADAA member Dr. Joel Minden shares thoughts on the CBT-i Coach app - “Smartphone apps aren't adequate substitutes for assistance from a professional but they can be helpful adjuncts to treatment for those who wish to track sleep time and quality or for promoting greater physical relaxation before bed,” says Joel Minden, Ph.D,, clinical psychologist at the Chico Center for Cognitive Behavior Therapy. "CBT-i Coach is nice because it includes a sleep diary.

Many people are familiar with depression and anxiety on their own, but the challenges of dealing with them at the same time are less understood by those who don’t directly live with them. That can lead to a lot of misconceptions. ADAA Board President, Dr. Luana Marques notes " While it may feel at times like you are the only person in the world experiencing anxiety and depression, the reality is that many people are dealing with it too. Nearly 29% of people in the U.S. will meet criteria for an anxiety disorder in their lifetime and 20.8% for a mood disorder like depression."

ADAA member Dr. Arash Javanbakht, is quoted in this article focused on misconceptions about PTSD. "Syrian refugees living in the United States, for example, have rates of PTSD comparable with those among Vietnam veterans, Arash Javanbakht, a psychiatrist and trauma specialist who has worked with refugees, told Vox.

ADAA Depression & Anxiety Editor in Chief and Board Member Murray Stein, MD, MPH and Member Daniel F. Levey, PhD are featured in this article on genetic variables linked to anxiety in military veterans. 

According to psychologist Dr. Mary Alvord, PhD, an Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) member, several different kinds of negative social media posts may be damaging to your mental health. Some negative posts might be about you directly, while others are about people you care about, or what’s going on in the broader world.

ADAA member Dr. Stephen Schueller discusses the role of technology in in treating mental health conditions, as well as the landscape of existing technology solutions, and those that are yet to be built in this week's Stigma podcast.

ADAA is pleased to announce that Luana Marques, PhD has assumed the role of President of the ADAA Board of Directors (BOD) effective January 1, 2020. Dr. Marques will serve a two-year term. Dr. Marques succeeds Beth Salcedo, MD, who served as ADAA BOD President from 2017-2019. Dr. Salcedo will now serve as Immediate Past Board Chair. Dr. Marques has been an active member of ADAA since 2008 and has served on the Board since 2016. Dr.