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Dealing with Stress/Questions Answered by Expert Patricia A. Schafer, Ph.D.
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Stress and exhaustion | 10/21/2011 |
| Q: I have had a lot of stress in my life lately, including a stressful job as a live-in caregiver for ... A: You do have a very stressful job. It sounds like your stress may be causing the tiredness in the ... | |
| My Dad | 10/9/2011 |
| Q: I am a 45 year old woman. My dad (who is in his 70s) has been a functional alcoholic my entire life. ... A: Your dad is an alcoholic. Alcoholics can go on and off drinking. Even stop for a year or two or ... | |
| Dealing with Thoughts | 9/20/2011 |
| Q: I hope that I'm addressing this question to the right person. I find that I have trouble keeping up ... A: It is a good thing to have a lot of things going on in your head - but when they are stressful that ... | |
| my husband wont and has not touched me in one yaer eventhough he told me after the 2 year dry spell he would never do again | 10/10/2010 |
| Q: He says so many diffrent things as to why,but he knows I won't cheet so I will have no choice but ... A: I suggest you see a marriage therapist together. If he won't go, then you go alone and explain your ... | |
| ORAL FIXATION | 9/16/2010 |
| Q: I HAVE READ A COUPLE OF ANSWERS HERE & AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THEM AS A SOLUTION FOR ME. I DO NOT ... A: I think smoking and getting a tongue piercing is dangerous due to tobacco and smoke chemicals may be ... | |
| Extreme Stress by Parent Fighting | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: I need your help: I get stressed when my parents fight, which is, like ALL THE TIME!? I know that ... A: Ola Sophia: You are living in an extremely high tension home. You probably feel like you are ... | |
| Chronic Anxiety Disorder | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: I am suffering from very chronic anxiety disorder from past 8 years. I have been on many anti ... A: There is an oldie but goodie medication called Buspar that has helped many with anxiety. You may ... | |
| Weight Loss Due To Stress | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: I am about 5'8 and about a year ago I used to weight 160 pounds no I'm down to 130 pounds. Everyone ... A: Since you want to gain back weight, there are health drinks to help you out. You need to check out ... | |
| relationship stress affecting work | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: I am a 24 yr old woman and my boyfriend is 26. We have been in a long- distance relationship since ... A: I do not think anything is really wrong with you. You are going through having not to communicate ... | |
| Responding to stress | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: I've recently realized that I tend to get overly emotional when I am in or around a stressfull ... A: Driving is VERY stressful - there is so much to be aware of when driving in a big city. Since you ... | |
| stress | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: My family problems seem to be all that goes threw my mind to the point that I am starting to feel ... A: Please continue to protect yourself and your parents should too. Your brother has a big problem and ... | |
| Father with anger problems | 11/12/2009 |
| Q: I have a father who has retired and does nothing all day but watch TV and look at the computer. He ... A: A "dry drunk" is a person who is acting as if they were drinking. That is, when someone drinks they ... | |
| Father with anger problems | 11/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a father who has retired and does nothing all day but watch TV and look at the computer. He ... A: Your father sounds like he may be suffering from depression. Depression can sometimes be anger ... | |
| I am concerned about the possibility of having post-surgical depression. | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a concern that I would like to address. 8 weeks ago I had two different surgical procedures. ... A: Post surgical depression is quite common and I am sorry to hear that your friends and family laugh ... | |
| Dealing with Several Stressful Issues | 9/13/2009 |
| Q: My stress levels seem to have been increasing a lot lately. Unfortunately, a lot of harsh realities ... A: You are dealing with a lot right now. Economically many, many, people are going through tough ... | |
| Father abandoned me....again.... | 9/9/2009 |
| Q: I am struggling very much w/ an issue involving my father who left me when I was 6 months old. Now, ... A: If you have no expectations that does not mean you are not yourself. It seems you "set up" ... | |
| Father abandoned me....again.... | 9/8/2009 |
| Q: I am struggling very much w/ an issue involving my father who left me when I was 6 months old. Now, ... A: It is hard to want a relationship with someone and they do not show the same interest or enthusiasm ... | |
| Premature aging | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: I am male, 50. Until a couple years ago, I looked young for my age-people thought I was 40 or less. ... A: Changing a job to a more stressful one that is more demanding of your time and also pressures for ... | |
| Post surgical depression | 8/10/2009 |
| Q: Do one get "post surgical depression" after every surgery. In 2001 I experience a trauma, losing my ... A: One can get too analytical after surgery - especially when one has surgery that leaves them in a ... | |
| Life as an adventure | 6/12/2009 |
| Q: Schafer, I have an anxiety disorder and an OCD related to health issues. I have a tendency to see ... A: Sorry to hear you are suffering with anxiety and OCD. As I was reading your message about waning to ... | |
| Abandonment Issues spilling over into relationships | 5/30/2009 |
| Q: I am a 36 year old woman who lost my father 4 days before my 10th birthday. I have assumed for 26 ... A: I am sorry to hear about the story of your dad's death and they told you he was away on a business ... | |
| Please help if you can! | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: my name is Emily and im 18 years old. Recently I've started cutting myself as a stress reliever. ... A: I am sorry to hear you are hurting so much that you need to cut. Cutting can develop as an outlet ... | |
| money issues w family causing STRESS!!!!! | 12/26/2008 |
| Q: I live with a very close family member and we love each other very much. Our problem is: I am frugal ... A: The one you are resenting sounds like you are resenting yourself for not saying no. There is ... | |
| Stress | 12/23/2008 |
| Q: What are the negative effects of stress,anxiety, and depression? Can stress damage my body? A: There are many effects such as: headaches, poor sleep or over sleep, can't concentrate, strains the ... | |
| confussed about my ex girlfriend | 11/20/2008 |
| Q: Well 3 months ago my girlfriend broke up with me and she said that she needed space. Since then ive ... A: You mentioned you have been doing everything to "try" and get her back. It may be hard to ... | |
| anxiety | 11/19/2008 |
| Q: I have a long history of anxiety and anxiety attacks that have recently worsened. I dealt with ... A: Yes, it is possible for anxiety to cause a weird tingling/buzzing feeling, headaches, sleep ... | |
| stress | 8/19/2008 |
| Q: iam 26 years old married woman.before marriage ilived with my father alone. i have two sisters both ... A: Yasir: I am sorry to hear how stressed you are and difficulty you have about getting pregnant. I ... | |
| My dad is always stressed | 7/9/2008 |
| Q: I'm 13 and I have a great mother and father. They don't abuse me in any way. They only treat me ... A: It is very hard seeing a parent stressed out and you wish you could help so much that it "cures" ... | |
| son's post surgery depression | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: my 18 year old son just came home (yesterday) from the hospital after having a tumor removed from ... A: Yes, feeling depressed after surgery - almost any type of surgery - could be do to the trauma of the ... | |
| relationship anxiety | 5/21/2008 |
| Q: I am a 27-year-old male who has been actively dating for maybe 7 years. I have always been nervous ... A: Sounds like you could be suffering from a form of social anxiety such as a social phobia around ... | |
| stressed and down | 4/17/2008 |
| Q: I am really asking what I should do. Maybe its obvious but it doesnt feel it at the moment. I'll ... A: You have been through a lot and all the support you gave your brother while he was in rehab and then ... | |
| Spouse's work stress. | 4/16/2008 |
| Q: Over the past year and a half my wife has been under lots of stress at work. As we are both driven ... A: Your behavior is normal and for what your wife is going through at work that is normal also. Guys ... | |
| idk anymore | 3/26/2008 |
| Q: i am 16 years old. i have, as many American families do today, a very dysfunctional family. my mom's ... A: YOu are going through a lot of stress and it sounds like you want to pull yourself tegether. It is ... | |
| STRESSES | 1/6/2008 |
| Q: i am very stressed about life and how it has effected me. i am 26 years old still living at home i ... A: It sounds like you are really bound to the house and that your dad has control of your life. So, it ... | |
| Anxiety being gay and a little more | 12/11/2007 |
| Q: I'm from Venezuela I came back to my country after 3 years of living in Uk whit my boyfriend I never ... A: Ola Marcos: I am glad that you have a good counselor. Take it a day at a time. Spiritually, every ... | |
| Anxiety being gay and a little more | 12/10/2007 |
| Q: I'm from Venezuela I came back to my country after 3 years of living in Uk whit my boyfriend I never ... A: Ola Marcos: It sounds like you may need to be treated for depression and anxiety with medication ... | |
| Stress Symptoms | 10/22/2007 |
| Q: I am currently going under a TON of stress right now, getting married in 2 weeks, money troubles, ... A: Yes - stress can cause this and you are going through a lot. Have you tried some deep breathing ... | |
| Stress Related Hives | 10/19/2007 |
| Q: For the last two weeks I have had hives popping up all over my body. I have had hives before and ... A: I am sorry you are suffering with hives and under stress. When your husband lost his job, you knew ... | |
| Emotional Relationship | 10/17/2007 |
| Q: I am a 25 year old male,i am living in south africa, orignally from turkey, i have been suffering ... A: It is difficult wanting to know if she has told you the whole truth. I think you need to spend more ... | |
| dealing with sleeplessness and stress | 8/21/2007 |
| Q: My name is Ruth, I have three children(Jessica 17 with pdd, Jeffrey 14 with ADHD and Justin 20mths.) ... A: You are a very busy lady. Sounds like you want to get organized without having to be on any meds ... | |
| post sugery depression | 6/15/2007 |
| Q: 5 weeks ago i had an inguinal hernia repair and abdominal hysterectomy, 10 hours after surgery i ... A: You do need help with all the stresses and anxiety and anger you are feeling, and possibly ... | |
| Stress and colds | 6/7/2007 |
| Q: In April I had a pregnancy scare, I did a test and it was negative, and the nurse who took my test ... A: J. Stress can cause headaches, stomache aches, panic attacks, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, ... | |
| Stress - Nausea?? | 6/5/2007 |
| Q: Recently the stress of her job has caused her to quit which I fully support. She had the 'anxious' ... A: You sound like a very supportive and wonderful husband. If it sounds like she never experienced ... | |
| stress | 5/20/2007 |
| Q: i am 24 years of age, i have recently returned to work after taking a year out with my first child, ... A: You are going through lots of adjustments. Are you getting enough sleep at night that you can have a ... | |
| Food stuck in throat, after eating only! | 5/10/2007 |
| Q: I also have the 'food stuck in throat' thing but only after eating. It lasts for hours sometimes ... A: Is the food "sticking" in your throat or had it gone done and it only "feels like" it is there? If ... | |
| strange feeling in throat | 4/4/2007 |
| Q: I have a constant feeling of hair or food stuck in the back of my throat. I have visited 2 doctors, ... A: You have a "feeling" of hair or food stuck in the back of your throat yet you know there is nothing ... | |
| Dealing with Stress | 2/13/2007 |
| Q: how a positive sttitude can change your response to stress? A: The best example I can give you is any 12-Step program. People there are under stress from losing ... | |
| Zocor s/e's vs emotional symptoms | 12/26/2006 |
| Q: Faithfull about annual physicals- all normal. Have been on Zocor for 4 months, been divorced for 2 ... A: Thinking about if your symptoms are a reaction to Zocor - I suggest going to medscape.com web site ... | |
| Public nervousness ? | 12/21/2006 |
| Q: I don't know usually I will get nervous in front of public that too among strangers. But I won't ... A: You have what is called "Social anxiety". You can start looking it up on the internet to become ... | |
| Help please? :( | 12/2/2006 |
| Q: I am writing to ask you a question. My name is Kara I am 16 years old. I am a victim of hurricaine ... A: It sounds like you may have PTSD - Post traumatic stress disorder. If you were not this way before ... | |
| anxiety or what? | 8/19/2006 |
| Q: my name is jesse im a 27 year old male my doc tells me i have severe anxiety but i dont believe it. ... A: I can think of two things going on, first anxiety and second something neurological may be ... | |
| stress is hurting our relationship | 10/30/2005 |
| Q: f for over 6 monthes now and i am head over heels for him. during our relationship we have become ... A: There could be quite a few things going on with your boyfriend and he is using the "possibility" ... | |
| Confrontations at work | 1/9/2005 |
| Q: I'm getting panic attacks. A former co-worker (who was employed for 7 yrs) was re-hired as ... A: Sorry this is a few days late. Dealing with difficult people is VERY difficult, especially with ... | |
| Social Phobia and Anxiety | 3/8/2004 |
| Q: I have battled this on-going problem for many years. Not only do I have Panic and Anxiety ... A: WOW - you sure are carrying a heavy weight of medical problems. I strongly believe in seeing a ... | |
| decisions | 12/19/2000 |
| Q: Patricia, I have a very hard time making decisions sometimes. I know most of the time how I feel, ... A: You mentioned you know how you feel most of the time. I presume that is good. If so, you may have a ... | |
| stress | 10/25/2000 |
| Q: I live stressed out every day of my life. I worry about all aspects in my life. I am 42 years old, ... A: Sound like you really want to stop worrying, but can't. You know some things are silly to worry ... | |
| Facing another day | 8/18/2000 |
| Q: Hi. I was drawn to your status because you are in the Cleveland area. My name is Sarah and I live ... A: First - your job. You really do need to quit if it is bothering you that much. There will always be ... | |
| stress vs. tinnitus | 8/4/2000 |
| Q: I was taking Paxil (40 mg) for about 2 and a half months. (I`m 54 years old) My wife (not I) felt ... A: I often wonder how people pick me out reading the short blurb on my education, etc. I did not ... | |
| ANGER | 6/20/2000 |
| Q: I am paralyzed by resentment right now. Long story short- my husband was recently fired from his job ... A: That is so sad that your husband's exboss is so greedy, etc. I keep thinking it is best to stay out ... | |
| Dealing with Life | 6/9/2000 |
| Q: Schafer, I am having a hard time handling my moods & find myself stressed and anxious most of the ... A: Sounds like you may be having a little depression along with anxiety. You mentioned you started a ... | |
| sudden wealth | 5/22/2000 |
| Q: This is an odd request, but I hope you`ll be able to help me. I`m a writer for a new publication ... A: What you are doing sounds so interesting. I don't think I can personally help you much because it ... | |
| Social Phobia | 4/27/2000 |
| Q: I have a 13 year old daughter who is having a lot of trouble at school. She has self-esteem ... A: WHen you say she "can't learn like the other kids do" has she ever been tested for any learning ... | |
| Everyday stresses on an already overloaded system | 4/2/2000 |
| Q: Schafer, I am having a problem dealing with stress. I have had a great number of stressful events ... A: Yes, it is time to head for the therapist's chair/office, etc. YOU need support for YOU. Your ... | |
| Stress | 2/28/2000 |
| Q: I have been experiencing an overload of stress lately, i.e. tightness in the chest, and anxiety. ... A: Having to move is a big stressor and readjusting. You stated you wanted your daughter to be ... | |
Dealing with Stress
Answers by Expert:
Patricia A. Schafer, Ph.D.
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I specialize in various forms of depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and also stress, phobias, life changes, grief, women's issues, men's issues, etc. My licenses are: Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor -Supervisor(LPCC-S) and Licensed Professional Chemical Dependency Counselor (LICDC) in the state of Ohio and a National Certified Counselor (NCC).
Experience
12 years experience counseling substance abusers, families of alcoholics/drug addictions, and those with codependency issues. I also specialize in social phobia; stress; anxieties; women`s issues; grief and adjustments to life changes. Some therapeutic techniques used are: CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), DBT (Dialectical Behaviorial Therapy)REBT (Rational Emotive), SFT (Solution Focused) and 12-Step, etc. If you live in the Cleveland area, you can contact me at my office for an appointment at: 440-349-4521. I am on various insurance panels and EAP programs.
Organizations
ACA, OCA, NCC, OMHCA
Education/Credentials
Ph.D. In counseling
MA In Counseling
BS In Psychology
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