Befriending Your Amygdala: A Compassionate Guide to Calming the Alarm Center of Your Brain

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by anxiety, panic, or stress, chances are your amygdala has been working overtime. But what if instead of fearing your amygdala or trying to silence it, you learned to befriend it? This article explores how to build a compassionate relationship with this small but powerful part of your brain—and how doing so can help you regulate emotions, reduce anxiety, and live more peacefully.
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When OCD and ADHD Co-Occur: Understanding, Diagnosing, and Treating a Complex Pair

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD, a neurobiological disorder, and  Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental condition, often appear vastly different on the surface—one characterized by intrusive thoughts and compulsive rituals, the other by inattention,  impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Yet, growing research and clinical evidence show that these disorders can and do frequently co-occur, creating a complex picture that challenges both diagnosis and treatment.
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The Connection Between Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors and ADHD

I am a cognitive behavioral therapist specializing in OCD, anxiety disorders, BDD, and body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). I am also trained and certified to treat ADHD. One study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that 39.9% of patients with trichotillomania also had ADHD, compared to 19.9% of the control group (Trivedi et al.,
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