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February 27, 2022 by Alan Zupka Leave a Comment

CBIT therapy for Tics and Tourettes

Living with a tic or Tourettes Syndrome (TS) can be a significant struggle for most people, as there can be a lot of shame and embarrassment involved. Up until very recently, there weren’t many good forms of treatment that offered lasting relief. But new science is showing that cognitive-behavioral intervention therapy (CBIT) can help sufferers of TS and tics.

How Does CBIT Work?

Though TS is a neurological disorder and tics are somewhat involuntary, the urge for both is highly sensitive to the surrounding environmental stressors. Those with TS and/or tics usually experience a specific situation that brings their TS or tics on or worsens them. 

CBIT helps children and adults be able to identify those environmental factors that may worsen their symptoms. It also teaches them new skills that will help them predict and manage their symptoms. 

Is CBIT Really Effective for TS and Tics?

Complete elimination of tics and TS symptoms can occur with CBIT, though those occurrences are fairly rare. CBIT can, however, significantly reduce the severity of tics and TS symptoms on more than half of people who undergo the therapy, according to National Institutes of Health-funded studies. For instance, one recent study found that 87% of participants who experienced great results after initial therapy continued to do well six months after treatment. 

CBIT should not be thought of as a cure for tics or TS but rather as a tool to help people manage their symptoms and greatly improve their quality of life.

Getting Started with CBIT Therapy

If you are interested in experiencing CBIT therapy for yourself, it’s important to find a therapist who has been trained and certified in CBIT with a proven track record. Your therapist can begin to help you identify triggers and offer management solutions for symptoms.

If you’d like to explore treatment options, please give my office a call.

SOURCES:

  • https://tourette.org/research-medical/cbit-overview/
  • https://cbittherapy.com/
  • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/cbit-therapy-tics-tourettes-acton-ma/809484

Filed Under: cbt

February 23, 2022 by Alan Zupka Leave a Comment

Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors and Treatment Options

According to the TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors, the term body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) describes a group of behaviors thought to be related to anxiety disorders, impulse control disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The behaviors can include hair pulling, skin picking, nail-biting, knuckle cracking, and tooth grinding, to name some. 

Treatment Options

The question of why people engage in these repetitive behaviors has challenged mental health professionals for many years. While we don’t know the exact reasons or mechanisms for development, we now recognize specific treatments that have been proven effective.

It’s important to mention that professional help should be received from a mental health provider that has been specially trained to treat BFRB’s. This can be the difference between receiving treatment that has little or no impact and treatment that is very helpful.

The biggest treatment recommendation for BFRBs is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps individuals deal with repetitive behaviors by helping them identify the triggers that cause the behavior in the first place. Once the trigger has been identified, therapy focuses on changing the reaction to the trigger, or the behavior. 

Another treatment option that may prove effective is called Habit Reversal Training. This therapy helps people recognize their patterns and manage any negative emotions associated with them.

To reiterate, finding a mental health professional who is well-versed in using behavioral science and behavioral interventions is key. When looking for therapists in your local area, be sure they have experience with BFRB treatments. Get on the phone with them and don’t be shy about asking them some questions.

If you or someone you know is suffering from BFRBs and would like to explore treatment options, please get in touch with me. I would be happy to discuss how I may be able to help.

SOURCES:

  • https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/co-occurring-disorders/body-focused-repetitive-behaviors
  • https://www.anxiety.org/what-is-body-focused-repetitive-behavior-bfrb

Filed Under: cbt

February 21, 2022 by Alan Zupka Leave a Comment

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is Feb 21st – Feb 27th

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (NEDA Week), which takes place during the week of February 21 – 27th, is an annual campaign that aims to educate the public about eating disorders as well as provide hope and support to those affected by eating disorders. 

How Do We Define Eating Disorders?

Eating disorders are patterns of behavior that can be characterized by persistent disruptions in the way a person eats. Eating disorders affect up to 5% of the population and typically develop in adolescence and young adulthood. Eating disorders are believed to be a result of chronic stress and/or intense emotions and can become very serious. If not treated, eating disorders can have negative effects on a person’s physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. 

The most common types of eating disorders include:

  • Anorexia nervosa
  • Bulimia nervosa
  • Binge eating disorder
  • Avoidant restrictive food intake disorder
  • Pica 

People with an eating disorder present with a few common behaviors. This can include things like:

  • Restrictive eating
  • Avoiding certain foods
  • Binge eating
  • Purging (vomiting)
  • Laxative misuse

Behaviors related to eating disorders can appear in many people with the same intensity and drive as those suffering from substance addiction.

Treatment Options

Eating disorders are often found to co-occur in people who are inflicted with other mental health issues such as mood and anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and alcohol and drug abuse issues. Some evidence does suggest genes may play a role in the development of eating disorders.

Treatment options usually combine psychological and behavioral adaptations along with medical and nutritional education. For instance, a mental health therapist may work with a client using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) while a doctor and/or nutritionist may help that individual understand how purging behaviors and/or malnutrition can negatively impact their health. With the right treatment plan, individuals with eating disorders can regain their emotional and mental health and develop healthy eating habits.

How to Recognize National Eating Disorder Awareness Week

It is believed that 30 million Americans will struggle with an eating disorder in their lifetime. There is a good chance you may know someone who is currently struggling with an eating disorder or has struggled in the past.

To bring awareness to this issue, the NEDA campaign is organizing nationwide walks. To partake and find a walk near you, visit https://www.nedawalk.org/.

SOURCES:

  • https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-involved/nedaweek
  • https://adaa.org/eating-disorders/types-of-eating-disorders
  • https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/eating-disorders/what-are-eating-disorders

Filed Under: eating disorder

February 20, 2022 by Alan Zupka Leave a Comment

Sex Therapy for Performance Anxiety in Men

As a therapist whose practice focuses on helping people with sexual issues, I can tell you the majority of individuals who contact me for help are men. And over the years, most of these men have suffered from premature ejaculation (PE). While there can be different things that cause PE, the usual culprit is performance anxiety.

When it comes to performance anxiety in men, there are a few common causes:

Pornography

Pornography is rampant in our society and it has given many people unrealistic expectations for their own sex lives. Many men feel if they can’t attain and sustain an erection for a long period of time, like the men in porn, they will disappoint their partner.

Stress

Performance anxiety can also come about because of stressors like financial difficulties and pressure at work.

Changes in the Relationship

More often than not, the men I counsel have suffered performance anxiety because their feelings about their partner have changed. Sometimes, men have trouble performing because they find themselves falling in love with their partner, and sometimes men have trouble performing when they find themselves falling out of love with their partner. Yes, men’s emotions affect their sex life!

We have all been led to believe that men are hardwired completely differently than women. And while there are obvious differences, the truth is, men aren’t able to get an erection whenever, with whomever, no matter the situation.

How Sex Therapy Can Help

The good news is, often a man’s penis acts as a barometer for his mental and emotional health. If you are suffering from performance anxiety, there’s a very good chance you are dealing with some other stress or struggle in your life.

Sex therapy provides men with a non-judgmental space in which to explore their life and relationships. A good sex therapist can take a situation that may feel awkward and turn it into a great experience where you can deal with whatever underlying issues may be going on so you can have the best sex of your life.

If you’d like to explore treatment options, please get in touch with me. I’d be happy to discuss how I may be able to help.

 

RESOURCES:

  • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/extraordinary-relationships/202010/one-surprising-cause-male-performance-anxiety
  • https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sex-is-language/201908/sexual-performance-problems
  • https://psychcentral.com/lib/an-overview-of-sex-therapy#1

Filed Under: Couples/Marriage, Men's Issues, Sexual Health

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Alan Zupka

Alan Zupka | Counselor | LGBTQ Community | Orlando, FL

(407) 986-2888
alan@azupkacounseling.com

Orlando, FL 32803

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--Anonymous

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