Anxiety, Stress and Depression
Today’s teens and young adults are increasingly susceptible to anxiety, stress and depression. In fact, 25 percent of all teens and 30 percent of all teen girls suffer from some type of anxiety disorder including separation anxiety disorder, specific phobia, social phobia, agoraphobia (perception of your environment being unsafe and there is no way out), panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder.
The high school years are an ideal time to give students the tools to gain control of these symptoms. A recent study published in the New York Times this weekend confirms that suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in college age young people. Childhood and adolescence is the core risk phase for developing anxiety symptoms and syndromes. The impact of these conditions can be life threatening and life long. Therefore, treatment during this time frame is critical for improved lifetime outcomes.
Teens and young adults filled with anxiety, stress and depression are at risk of suicide and often exhibit early warning signs that can alert parents and teachers that serious problems are afoot. A recent study, conducted by the National Center for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Illness, identified eight risk behaviors for anxiety and suicide including:
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Illegal drug use
- Heavy cigarette smoking
- Being overweight
- Sedentary routine
- Reduced sleep
- Excessive social media use, and
- Truancy
During his 40 years of active clinical practice experience, Dr. Dixon has treated over a thousand patients suffering from anxiety, stress, and depression complaints. Dr. Dixon will provide an initial one hour examination and consultation to assess the severity of the disorder and determine which treatment protocol(s) will yield the optimal results.
Anxiety, Stress and Depression Treatment
The healing process for anxiety, stress and depression treatment is a multi-modal or combination therapy approach. These treatment protocols involve:
- Genetic Testing – advances in genetic testing have shown definitive links between gene variants and anxiety and depression disorders.
- Heart Rate Variability Testing – anxiety is related to hyper-activation of the HPA axis, secretion of the stress hormone, Cortisol, that results in anxiety disorders.
- Food Sensitivity, Allergy and Organic Acid Testing – food, food additive, and environmental exposures have been shown to disrupt normal brain activity. Identification and elimination of the offending substances have a definitive positive impact on neuro-emotional diseases.
- Quantitative EEG Brain Mapping & Neurofeedback Training – dysfunctional brain activity is identified and targeted for treatment using computer-based neurofeedback techniques.
- Virtual Reality Biofeedback – these highly interactive biofeedback training exercises are excellent in developing anxiety reduction techniques.
- The Vielight – this patented intra-nasal stimulation technology is non-invasive but stimulates deep structures within the brain’s core such as long term memory and hormonal regulation.