Ordinary stress is pressure exerted on us in our normal daily life. My car breaks down, my boss misunderstands me, I lose some money in my investment, 1 have an argument with my friend, I am going to sit an important examination tomorrow, and so on; these are normal events that we may have everyday. [...]

A patient used this expression and it seems to suit the situation very well. He had been married for three years; he was not impotent, but was unable to come to a climax. I had asked him not to have sex relations until he had mastered the exercises. One day he came in and announced [...]

This is the third most common fear. Our lack of understanding of the disorder accentuates this fear. We feel so much has already happened which we haven’t been able to control, and every day seems to bring with it new symptoms and new fears. We can’t help but feel the time will come when we [...]

Withdrawal from medication, including anti-depressants, may mean a return of high levels of anxiety and panic attacks, and some of us may experience other symptoms of withdrawal. Withdrawal must be done under the supervision of a doctor. Cognitive behavioural techniques have been found to assist in withdrawal from tranquillisers and high success rates for withdrawal [...]

Agoraphobia is one such control. Developing agoraphobia has meant a lifetime of limitation for many people. Until the recognition of panic disorder as a separate condition in 1980, agoraphobia was considered to be a primary condition. Treatment was focused on it, instead of the disorder. Agoraphobia used to be defined as fear of open spaces. [...]

People suffering from post traumatic stress disorder can include Vietnam veterans, bushfire victims, victims of violent crime, sexual and/or physical abuse. People may experience flashbacks in which they believe they are actually living through the traumatic event again, or may have nightmares in which they relive the experience. They may also experience a cued attack [...]