Welcome to Learning Discoveries Psychological Services!

Anxiety and Phobias

As a part of growing up, “children naturally have fears”, however when it stops being developmentally appropriate, then it’s a problem. For example if fear is keeping a child from doing things that he should be doing, participating in school, playing, having friends, sleeping away from parents, then it’s time to get help.
Anxiety disorders are often debilitating chronic conditions, which can be present from an early age or begin suddenly after a triggering event.

Anxiety is prone to flare up at times of high stress and is frequently accompanied by physiological symptoms such as: headaches, sweating, muscle spasms, palpitations and hypertension which in some cases lead to fatigue or even exhaustion.

The words anxiety and fear are often used interchangeably, but they have the following distinct meanings:

Anxiety is defined as an unpleasant emotional state for which the cause is either not readily identified
or perceived to be uncontrollable or unavoidable.

Fear is an emotional and physiological response to a recognised external threat which has been crucial
for survival both as an individual and as a species.

The term Anxiety Disorder, includes fears, phobias as well as anxieties. Anxiety disorders are often
comorbid with other mental disorders, particularly clinical depression, which is why there is considerable overlap between the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Our approach to assisting those with Anxiety Disorders is to undertake a thorough history and psychometric assessment including a QEEG (quantitative electroencephalograph). Conventional approaches are then combined with Neurofeedback training (the sister technology to QEEG) which is proving to be a powerful intervention strategy in alleviating anxiety.

Neurofeedback training is a drug-free, non-invasive and a safe method of reducing fear, worry and mind chatter in those who exhibit symptoms of anxiety. The “Relaxation Training for the Brain” allows the individual to learn ways to increase their state of calm and quiet alertness. It also helps the central nervous system to become more adaptive and responsive instead of remaining inflexible and reactive.

At Learning Discoveries we devise an individualised programme that is aimed at restoring balance in the autonomic nervous system as well as improving a person’s outlook on life. A core component of the programme is our state of the art Neurofeedback training techniques as well as a combination of the following: education and counselling, breath work, heart rate variability training, inhibition of the Moro reflex, hyposis and meditation.

For more information about either a QEEG assessment or Neurofeedback training techniques or to make an appointment please send an email or contact us on (02) 9637 9998 during business hours.

Papers by Rosemary
Anxiety

Further Reading Suggestions
Biofeedback
Counselling
Depression
Heart Rhythms and Heart Rate Variability
Hypnotherapy
Neurofeedback – EEG Biofeedback
Psychometric and Learning Difficulties Assessment
QEEG and Neurofeedback
Quantitative Electroencephalography – QEEG
Vital Energy and its Relationship to Brian Function and CNS