DEAR DOCTOR K: I’d like to learn more about cognitive behavioral therapy. How is it used to treat anxiety?
DEAR READER: Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is the leading form of therapy for anxiety. It attempts to correct ingrained patterns of negative thoughts and behaviors. Some studies indicate that it is as effective or more effective than medication.
DEAR DOCTOR K: My wife gets down in the dumps every winter. It begins in the fall and hits its peak sometime in January or February. She thinks it’s just because the cheer of the holidays has passed, but I think it’s more than that. Could it be seasonal depression?
DEAR READER: It’s not impossible that your wife has a case of the “winter blahs,” as she insists. The holiday season can be exhausting. Plus, you eat too much, and if you’re like me, the rich food and the added pounds make you feel tired. But I agree with you that your wife also could be suffering from what is called seasonal affective disorder.
DEAR DOCTOR K: In the past year I’ve had five panic attacks. Now I’m always worried I’m going to have another, at any moment. Is there anything I can do to prevent them?
DEAR READER: Panic attacks can be very unsettling. All of a sudden, you are filled with extreme fear or terror. You may be short of breath, have palpitations, chest pain, sweating or feel a smothering sensation. You probably fear that you are losing control. You might even think you are about to die. A panic attack usually lasts five to 30 minutes. But it can continue for several hours. Sometimes the attacks occur in stressful situations, but often they begin for no apparent reason. They can even wake you from deep sleep.
DEAR DOCTOR K: My husband recently passed away unexpectedly. I feel like I am drowning in grief. Please help me.
DEAR READER: I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. Just getting through the day may seem very hard. My patients sometimes have sought my advice about how to deal with the sudden and unexpected loss of a loved one. When they, like you, are still in the early, raw stages of grief, my advice is to let the nonessentials slide.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I had my first baby about a month ago, and ever since I have been feeling depressed and overwhelmed. I keep waiting for these feelings to go away, chalking them up to my adjustment to new parenthood, but they haven’t yet. At what point should I seek treatment?
DEAR READER: Most mothers experience the “baby blues” during the first few days after giving birth. Symptoms include anxiety, irritability and weepiness. They typically worsen by the fourth or fifth day after delivery. Then they go away over the next two weeks. The cause is unknown. It may be simply exhaustion from labor and delivery.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I sweat a lot, particularly on my forehead, when I get nervous. This is especially true when I’m about to meet new people. It’s very embarrassing. Any suggestions?
DEAR READER: Sweating helps you to maintain your body temperature. But when your body sweats more than it needs to, that’s called “hyperhidrosis.”
Dr. Anthony Komaroff is a practicing physician, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Editor in Chief of Harvard Health Publications. Learn more »
Harvard Health Publications is the publishing division of Harvard Medical School, providing the general public with authoritative, trustworthy, and accessible health information. Learn more »
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