Brittney BrinsonLCMHC

Depression often causes people to feel sad, empty, or hopeless, and can cause a lack of interest in life. It can also affect a person's thinking patterns and physical health.

Panic attacks are acute conditions in which one experiences an intense bout of anxiety out of seemingly nowhere. This oftentimes stems from a perceived rather than actual threat. Symptoms may include heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, and shortness of breath. Panic disorder involves regular frequency of panic attacks (two or more) with a fear of experiencing more in the future.

Parenting issues involve those associated with the child-rearing process. These may include safety, discipline, nutrition, finances, childcare, school, household rules, chores, daily routines, social activities, and relationships with extended family members. Because child-rearing practices vary by culture, cultural norms must be considered.

Fear is characterized by unpleasant feelings associated with the real or perceived threat of danger. Phobias, although they may stem from traumatic experiences, are oftentimes irrational fears of things that are unlikely to cause harm. Phobic individuals experience intense, debilitating bouts of fear that compromise overall well-being. Common phobias include social phobias, agoraphobia, acrophobia, pteromerhanophobia, and claustrophobia.

Behavioral disorders involve a pattern of disruptive behaviors that cause problems in school, at home, and in social situations. Can include hyperactivity, impulsivity, defiant behavior, chronic patterns of aggression, defiance, disruption, and/or hostility.