Silencing the Mind: Taming Late-Night Brain Chatter for Better Sleep

Have you experienced having a busy day of running around, feeling tired at night, and looking forward to sleeping…and then your mind starts? The minute your head hits the pillow, your brain gets going. Perhaps you’re worried about an upcoming event, wondering how you’ll manage the rest of the week, or suddenly remembered something you meant to do during the day. Whatever the thoughts are, they’re keeping you awake, and it’s an uneasy feeling that can lead to worries about being unable to sleep.

Dr. Margarita Cossuto, post-doctoral fellow at CBT Westport, explains that often when we are busy running around during the day we don’t have time to process and problem-solve worries. Usually, Dr. Cossuto elucidates, the only moments we have that are quiet enough to hear our thoughts are when we lie down to sleep. So naturally, thoughts from the day start flooding in. You are not alone in experiencing this busy brain phenomenon. There is no doubt that thoughts, worries, and planning for the next day can keep you awake and restless at night.

Thankfully, there are several strategies you can try to help quiet your brain so you get the much-needed rest that you need.

Continue reading

The Bigger Picture of OCD

“A lot of people assume that having OCD means liking things organized or hating germs. It tends to be treated like a quirk or an endearing trait. But it’s so much more than that.” ―Whitney Amazeen

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder affects approximately 1 in 100 adults and as author Whitney Amazeen stated, it is so much more than an aversion to germs or a desire for organization.  OCD is a mental health disorder that creates a significant impact on a person’s life by consuming many hours in the day and leads to suffering and loss of time devoted to personal goals, valued activities, and relationships.  While many people can identify having had an intrusive thought, there is much more complexity to this disorder and the impact on daily living is significant.
Continue reading

Worried About Your Health? CBT Can Help.

Health anxiety, also known as illness anxiety disorder or hypochondriasis, is a mental health condition characterized by excessive worry and fear about having a serious medical illness. Individuals with health anxiety often find themselves preoccupied with the possibility of being sick, experiencing distressing physical symptoms, and seeking frequent reassurance from healthcare professionals. This condition can be highly debilitating, affecting one’s quality of life, relationships, and overall well-being. However, there is hope for those struggling with health anxiety through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Continue reading

Finding the Right Therapist for Your Child or Teen with OCD: A Guide for Parents

Parents play a crucial role in helping children cope with mental health challenges, such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).  When seeking treatment for OCD, it is essential to find a therapist who specializes in evidence-based approaches, particularly Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).  Read on to learn: a) what ERP is, b) why it is vital for effective OCD treatment, and c) questions to ask potential therapists to ensure that they are well versed and experienced in the best psychotherapeutic approach for treating OCD.

Continue reading

Teens Under Pressure

“Just try it, everyone does it, it’s not even that bad.”
“Hurry up and just take it, no one is looking.”
“She’s such a prude, don’t even try getting to know her.”
“That new kid is a loser, no one likes him.”

The pressure to fit in, to be liked and respected, and to be accepted by peers is a very normal human experience.  While much of the pressure our children and teens face is explicit (like the examples above), they can also feel pressure by just watching or knowing that peers are engaging in behaviors that they are not. For example, knowing that all their friends have snapchat and they are not yet allowed to download that app can feel like pressure to a teen.

Continue reading