By David H. Rosmarin, PhD, ABPP. Dear Lakewood Scoop Readers, Each and every month, hundreds of individuals from around the world call the Center for Anxiety seeking information about anxiety and related mental health concerns. There is considerable diversity among callers: Some have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, others have trouble sleeping due to incessant worries at night, others have panic attacks and fear they may be dying, and still others have no concerns themselves but want to help their family members or friends who are suffering. There is one thing that all callers have in common, however. They are all “anxious to know”. That is, they want practical advice about how to handle anxiety-related concerns that is based on current evidence and consistent with Torah values.

Being “anxious to know” has become very common. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in each and every calendar year 18.1% of Americans have a full-blown and diagnosable anxiety disorder, amounting to a staggering 57 million people! Women in particular are vulnerable, being 60% more likely than men to experience an anxiety disorder. Unfortunately, only 36.9% of clinically anxious individuals receive minimally adequate treatment, suggesting that most individuals suffer in silence. The real tragedy, however, is that anxiety disorders and many other mental health conditions are readily treatable with treatments that are well-validated by science, and in many cases medication is not necessary. Furthermore, the principles and practices of evidence-based treatments for anxiety and related problems are typically not only consistent with Torah values but embody them, such that by participating in treatments patients can experience spiritual growth.

For example, last year a young woman called our office feeling so overwhelmed by anxiety that she did not want to get out of bed in the morning. In just a few weeks, she accomplished her initial targets and was functioning well day-to-day. She therefore decided to stay on in treatment for a few more months to address a pattern of obsessiveness that he had developed over several years. Over time, not only did her mental health improve but her spiritual life lifted to a higher level than ever before. In describing his experience, she recently wrote “Now, I am free of my obsessions, know how to manage my anxiety, and love my life. My only regret: Not having done this sooner. I wish I had known that you don’t have to wait to hit rock bottom to get help.”

I am therefore pleased to introduce a new monthly column, which will provide a glimpse into the questions my office receives and our approach to treatment. Readers who are “anxious to know” are encouraged to write in their questions and concerns, and each month 1-2 letters will be published along with my responses. Submissions should be sent in via email to mailto:info@centerforanxiety.org with “Lakewood Scoop – Anxious to Know” in the Subject line of the message. To protect anonymity, names and other identifying details will be changed prior to publication. Questions are welcome about any topic related to mental health and treatment.

I look forward to hearing from you!

David H. Rosmarin, PhD, ABPP

Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School, Part Time

Director, Center for Anxiety, New York

David H. Rosmarin, Ph.D., ABPP, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, part-time, and a board certified clinical psychologist. He is also directs the Center for Anxiety, which has offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Monsey, and Boston. He can be reached at 646.837.5557 or mailto:info@centerforanxiety.org