The National Institute of Mental Health has shown that anxiety disorders are the number one mental health problem among American women and are second only to alcohol and drug abuse among men. According to Dr. Edmund J. Bourne, director of the Anxiety Treatment Center in San Jose, Calif., people living in Western society are currently experiencing more chronic stress than they have at any previous time in history. As a result anxiety disorders have increased among women and men as rapid changes in our society have made it difficult for people to cope with the resulting stress.
Even more frightening is the fact that science is uncovering evidence that began with Stanford University neurobiologist, Robert Sapolsky, over thirty years ago, that chronic stress can have physical effects that shorten our lifespan. Dr. Tessa Roseboom of the University of Amsterdam warns that the effects of chronic stress can be passed onto our own children even before they are born.
FCS therapists offer ways for individuals to manage their anxiety, develop emotional literacy and increase one’s assertive (as opposed to passive or aggressive) behavior. Clients learn to turn off their stress response and to experience the fun of the controlled stimulation of stress. Clients also can learn to discover compassion, connect socially and help others which in turn can heal the effects of chronic stress and help us to mend ourselves.
