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PANIC, FEAR, & AGORAPHOBIA
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Get FREE live advice in 24 hours about Panic & Agoraphobia treatment from a New York expert.
Email your question or call 212-726-2390 to learn about medication-free treatment for panic and social anxiety (NY, NJ, CT calls only). Dr. Brodsky is a therapist in New York City who specializes in the treatment of Panic, Social Anxiety, Phobias, Agoraphobia, OCD, PTSD, and other anxiety disorders. His 3 offices are convenient to Manhattan and the Boros, Rockland, Westchester, New Jersey, Long Island, and Connecticut.
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Read about Dr. Brodsky's treatment in this book by former anxiety sufferer Linda Maran (available on Amazon.com) and learn how it helped her overcome anxiety. Email Dr. Brodsky sjbrodsky@aol.com or call 212-726-2390 (NY, NJ, CT calls only).
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What are PANIC & AGORAPHOBIA?:
Agoraphobia often, but not always, coincides with Panic Disorder. Agoraphobia is characterized by a fear of having a panic attack in a place from which escape is difficult. In a mild form, sufferers are uncomfortable or nervous about something bad happening to them (like getting severely ill, fainting, losing control, or embarrassing themselves) in situations where they can't escape or get help (like being alone in a far away unfamiliar place, or trapped in a crowd, or a wide open mall or empty park, or elevator, subway, or driving on an express highway, or home alone). They may limit their traveling alone or require that a partner accompany them. In the most extreme form, these situations might make the person feel like they will die or go crazy, and many severe sufferers refuse to leave their homes, often for years at a time. Others develop a fixed route, or territory, from which they cannot deviate, for example the route between home and work. It becomes impossible for these people to travel alone beyond what they consider to be their safety zones without suffering severe anxiety.
Fortuntely, there is very effective treatment for panic and agoraphobia, possibly without medication, and you can be hopeful of overcoming your anxiety and living a normal peaceful life. Hundreds of studies support that the most effective treatment for panic and agoraphobia is a special type of behavior therapy, known as "Gradual Exposure Therapy." Gradual exposure enables sufferers to very gradually overcome their fears and avoidant behavior at a pace THEY choose and are comfortable with, so they are never overwhelmed. Results are achieved in a matter of months not years. Gradual exposure is more effective than medication or any other kind of therapy. Medication provides only temporary or partial relief and has side effects; symptoms just come back when you end the medication. Gradual exposure provides permanent relief, essentially eliminating excessive anxiety and other symptoms forever and restoring a normal life in which clients are more relaxed and less avoidant. Most of my clients benefit from exposure therapy with no medication at all. Many people's lives are transformed, getting the jobs and relationships they deserve but never thought possible until completing treatment.
HOW DO I FIND A THERAPIST TO TREAT PTSD?
I practice in Manhattan (34th St. & 5th Ave., near the Empire State Bldg. and Macy's), as well as Rockland County, and New Jersey, and would be happy to arrange an appointment for you or I can offer you a free phone consultation at 212-726-2390. If you live outside of the New York metropolitan area, you can find a local therapist by contacting the Association for the Advancement Of Behavior Therapy (www.aabt.org) in Manhattan, New York City. Ask them for a PTSD specialist in your area. If they don't have someone in your area, ask them if they know of a similar organization in your region that could make a referral to you. Such organizations would have words such as "Anxiety," "Fear," "Cognitive Therapy," or "Behavior Therapy" in their titles. Once they give you the names, you have to call and interview the therapists by phone. There are 2 TEST QUESTIONS YOU MUST ASK THEM: (1) Is gradual exposure therapy the main technique they use? If they don't, forget about using them. They might say they "talk" about it and help clients "see things more rationally," which is helpful, but that is no substitute for gradual exposure. And (2) How many people have they SUCCESSFULLY treated FOR panic and agoraphobia? They should have treated at least several people, the people should no longer have severe anxiety and avoidance, and should not be taking medication any more by the end of therapy. They should NOT say they just helped people "live with" panic better. If you can't find anyone in your area, I do offer phone sessions for those outside of the New York-NJ Metropolitan area. It's not ideal, but it's a lot better than going to someone who is not an expert on PTSD and gradual exposure. I can be reached at 212-726-2390. (The contents of the Anxiety Hotline and any email correspondence from Dr. Brodsky is not, nor should it be construed as, treatment.)
BUT THE FIRST STEP IS TO
EMAIL YOUR QUESTION TO DR BRODSKY NOW or call 212-726-2390. Dr. Brodsky's 3 offices are convenient to the entire New York Metropolitan area, including midtown Manhattan (on 34th St., close to every subway, bus, and train line), Long Island, Westchester, Rockland, and New Jersey.
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