Heidi Bolden

Thank you for your question. Hyperthyroidism can cause anxiety, irritability and mood swings, while hypothyroidism can cause mental slowing and memory problems as well as depression.

If your child is under the age of 18, the therapist is ethically obligated to share information about your child's treatment plan, goals, successes. I include all of my parents in every session that I have. First, by asking the parent if there is anything new that we need to work on today and then following up with the parent prior to the child's session. I make sure though to also include the child in this follow up, as I do not want to lose the trusting relationship that I have built with them. My goal is not only to work with the child, but also build communication between the child and parent and not single either of them out.

I would suggest monitoring your daughters moods. Does she seem to get overly anxious about the idea of going to social events? Is she overly shy more with her peers than with adults? More information and communication that you have with you daughter about why she doesn't seem to have friends will open up answers as to if a parent should be more concerned than usual. Open and nonjudgmental communication with are teens is so important in building a healthy and lasting relationship.

How long have you suffered from anxiety and how is it being managed? How frequent are the chest pains, everyday or less? I always recommend going to see your primary care provider to rule out any medical conditions. Once those have been ruled out, be more aware of your Anxiety. Anxiety comes with a long list of physical ailments, such as headaches, acid reflux, GI issues, as well as panic attacks.

My recommendation would be to search for a cognitive behavioral therapist in your area. This type of therapy includes more of a teaching role and empowering the client to use the tools taught to handle difficulties as they arise

It depends on the type of therapy you are looking for. CBT therapy is usually 8-10 sessions.

It can happen and does happen. In fact, to at least 40 million people in the US alone today have some type of sleep disturbance. So know that you are not alone. There can be many causes of sleep disturbance, which include, stress/anxiety, untreated ADHD, genetic factors, unmanaged pain, and host of other onsets. Even too much "screen time" can cause sleep disturbances. Our bodies produce a natural calming chemical called melatonin in order to help up sleep at night. If we are in front of a screen several hours a day and into the night, our body assumes that it is still daytime. Hence, it is not time to sleep. Have you tried any over the counter medications or a meditation practice prior to lying down to sleep?

I'm so sorry to hear about your loved one. I imagine the trauma of such an event will trigger all kinds of feelings/emotions. Anxieties can cause so many strange feelings/symptoms. It's good that you have been proactive and are listening to your body. Being aware of your anxiety is important, but having the awareness and ability to self harness it is also equally important. In my practice I find that a Cognitive Behavioral Therapeutic approach is the best type of therapy to assist with alleviating anxiety. Sometimes therapy along with a psychopharmacologist approach is also an effective approach to anxiety. Thank you for your question and if there is anything else I can assist with please let me know.