Anxiety Due to a Medical Condition

Have you experienced a medical condition? Experiencing PVCs, tumor, IBS, thyroid disorders, and more can come as a surprise and even when we work with our medical provider and are able to resolve the medical issue, we still fear the recurrence of that issue. 

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We may repeatedly seek reassurance from doctors, insisting on repeated medical tests, and visits to the ER and urgent care, to confirm our stability. Being reassured by the doctor that there is no serious medical illness brings relief -- temporarily.   The vicious cycle quickly resumes as new thoughts and physical sensation surface, followed by interpretations of danger, anxiety, and more visits to doctors to resolve the uncertainty. Soon the cycle ignites again with the next alarming thought.  

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This cycle may even escalate if your medical condition is not resolvable, even if it is manageable. This is my medical condition. I have thyroid disease and degenerative knees (they are about 90 years old on the inside). My medical conditions impact me daily. 

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With health anxiety the mind begins to misinterpret normal bodily sensations as dangerous. The body is very noisy. Healthy human bodies produce all sorts of physical symptoms that might feel uncomfortable, are unexpected, and unwanted, but not dangerous. 

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Misinterpreting normal sensations in the body begin to produce fear and worry including changes in visual acuity, heart rate, blood pressure, saliva levels, depth of breathing, balance, and muscle tone,  just to name a few.  These are normal and harmless bodily changes, but when a person believes or has recurring symptoms of a disease, it causes anxiety.  The sensations are real, but the beliefs about the sensations may not be.

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Anxiety is a protective mechanism and scanning the body for an illness seems like the right thing to do to protect ourselves, especially if we have the proof that our body is susceptible to an illness. However, when we are preoccupied with something, we tend to notice it.  Last month when I was looking to purchase a new car, I suddenly began to notice every car on the road; the make, model, and the color.  Previously, I didn’t pay attention.  Looking for symptoms makes you notice subtle sensations you might otherwise ignore. When you become preoccupied with bodily sensations, those sensations become amplified and last longer. 

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This is when it gets tricky. Each scan of the body produces uncertainty and doubt, giving the imagination opportunity to create stories.  As you imagine the worst, your body’s alarm system sounds off in the form of symptoms of anxiety (racing heart, tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, jitters, tingling, lightheadedness, nausea, stomach discomfort, sweating, headaches, etc.) giving your imagination additional fuel to create great works of fiction.   The symptoms are real. The thoughts are false. 

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With the help of neurocognitive anxiety therapy you can learn and understand what the brain is trying to do, how to reprogram it, and how to separate your fears from what is normal bodily processes. CBT therapy can help you process your fears of dying, your fears of living with a worsening condition, or even your fears of relapse. 

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Most importantly, it can help you separate pre-existing anxieties you might not have realized realized you had. Being able to look at your stress and worries in a healthier and more productive way. Finally, the goal is to find a way to live at peace with your body, even when you have a recurring or permanent health condition. 

Why ADHD Testing?

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When I first started my career in counseling, I wanted to focus on anxiety disorders, but after a couple years, I started to see a pattern. About 25% of my clients had, or needed to be tested for, ADHD. What I found is that most adults I meet are not hyperactive because most of those people were identified as kids. Instead, most of the adults I test and work with are "inattentive" (ADD) or are combined hyperactive/inattentive. They were able to get through school and in some cases work just fine and their life skills worked until they just didn't anymore. Most adults report not being able to achieve goals that others seem to achieve easily or feeling anxiety that medication doesn't even help.  While ADHD isn't the only answer, it can be for many people, which means you can finally identify your stuck point and start moving forward with your life. 

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Though it's called adult ADHD, symptoms start in early childhood and continue into adulthood. In some cases, ADHD is not recognized or diagnosed until the person is an adult. Adult ADHD symptoms may not be as clear as ADHD symptoms in children. In adults, hyperactivity may decrease, but struggles with impulsiveness, restlessness and difficulty paying attention may continue. 

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Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder that affects mental health that includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. Adult ADHD can lead to unstable relationships, poor work or school performance, low self-esteem, and other problems.  Treatment for adult ADHD is similar to treatment for childhood ADHD. Adult ADHD treatment can include medication, executive function skills coaching, psychological counseling, and treatment for any mental health conditions that occur along with ADHD.

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ADHD / ADD Adult Evaluation

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To complete the ADHD Evaluation, you will schedule a New Client appointment, select ADHD Testing, and then schedule a date and time. You will then receive an email from my Client Portal where you will complete a pre-visit questionnaire, some general assessments, and the Adult ADHD Rating Scale (ASRS-V1.1). After that point you can schedule your second appointment (at least 7 days later). 

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At the first session, you will complete the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) and participate in a clinical interview. At the second session, we will review the results of the assessments and you will be given a formal report to take to your PCP/Psychiatrist if you wish to pursue medication. 

​If you wish to get supportive therapy with ADHD testing, schedule your testing first, and then we will transition to counseling at the second session. 

​Fees

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The cost for the ADHD Testing is $260 (2 sessions at $130 each). This includes the cost of the clinical interview, one test administration / scoring / interpretation, report writing, and any ancillary fees associated with the evaluation. You will be charged $130 at each session. The report is provided after the payment of $260 has been paid in full. 

​If you cancel your appointment with less than 24-hour notice (from appt time), there is a $130 late cancel/no show fee. This is charged immediately and must be paid prior to rescheduling the next appointment. 

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​Follow-up Recommendations

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During the second session, Jennifer will provide information as an Integrative Medicine Practitioner if desired and how ADHD might relate to overcoming anxiety worry and fear. She can also review information about medication, executive function skill building, and Health and Wellness balance with ADHD. If any strong concerns are identified during the evaluation process, you will be informed. Recommendations may include referrals for mental health treatment or other services.

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In addition to completing the evaluation, Dr. Erickson is also available to provide brief individual therapy.