CBT for Substance Abuse in Massachusetts

Anxiety disorders are mental health conditions that affect how a person responds to anxious or fearful feelings. They can cause physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, sweating, and increased blood pressure. Symptoms of anxiety can also include difficulty sleeping, feeling tired all the time, panic attacks, and difficulty concentrating.

Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear or apprehension that can come on quickly and without warning. Physical symptoms include rapid heart rate, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, hot flashes or chills, trembling or shaking, sweating, and a sense of impending doom. During a panic attack, people may feel like they are losing control or might even think they are dying. Panic attacks can last from a few minutes to several hours and often leave the person feeling exhausted and drained afterward.

Depression is a common mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness. It can also cause physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, insomnia, and changes in appetite. Depression affects how people think, feel, and act and can interfere with everyday activities such as going to work or school, making decisions, and interacting with family and friends. It can even lead to suicide if not treated properly.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that can occur after someone goes through a traumatic event. Symptoms of PTSD include recurring flashbacks, nightmares, intense anxiety, avoidance of certain people and places, intrusive thoughts or memories related to the trauma, feeling emotionally numb, difficulty sleeping, and more.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by persistent and recurring thoughts, urges, or behaviors that cause significant distress and interfere with daily life. Common OCD symptoms include recurrent cleaning rituals, counting compulsions, hoarding tendencies, intrusive thoughts, anxiety around certain objects or themes such as fear of contamination or harm, and perfectionism. Treatment for OCD typically includes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and/or medication. With proper treatment, many people with OCD can lead normal, healthy lives.

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by alternating periods of mania and depression. During manic episodes, individuals often experience high energy levels, racing thoughts, impulsive behavior, and euphoria. Conversely, during a depressive episode, those with bipolar disorder may be irritable or apathetic and have difficulty concentrating. Symptoms of both the manic and depressive episodes of bipolar disorder can be severe, and they can have a significant impact on an individual’s life.

Phobias are intense, irrational fears of certain objects, situations, or activities. They can cause severe physical and psychological reactions in people, such as panic attacks or feelings of helplessness. Common phobias include fear of heights (acrophobia), fear of public speaking (glossophobia), fear of spiders (arachnophobia), fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), and fear of flying (aerophobia). People who experience phobias may go to great lengths to avoid the feared object or situation. However, it is important to remember that phobias are treatable and that there is help available. Through cognitive-behavioral therapy, those struggling with phobias can get the help they need to overcome them.

Personality disorders are a group of mental health conditions that affect how someone thinks, feels, and behaves. These patterns can be long-lasting and have an impact on many areas of a person’s life, such as their relationships and ability to cope with daily activities. A person with a personality disorder may experience difficulty relating to others and have intense, inappropriate reactions to events. They may also struggle to maintain healthy lifestyle habits and exhibit excessive levels of anger and aggression

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that involve disordered eating patterns and negative thoughts and behaviors related to food, weight, and body image. Eating disorders can take many forms, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder, unspecified eating disorder (previously referred to as EDNOS), pica, rumination disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). They can also have a profound impact on physical, psychological, and social well-being. They often co-occur with other mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.