Many people are diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder when they are actually experiencing OCD. Because OCD can involve mental compulsions like rumination, reassurance seeking, and overanalyzing thoughts, it is often mistaken for chronic worry. When OCD is treated as general anxiety, therapy can unintentionally reinforce the cycle and keep people stuck. In this blog, Dana Colthart of Clear Light Therapy explains why OCD is frequently missed, how reassurance and traditional talk therapy can worsen symptoms, and why ERP and ACT are effective treatments for both anxiety disorders and OCD. If you’ve tried therapy before but still feel trapped in intrusive thoughts or constant analysis, understanding the difference between GAD and OCD can change the direction of treatment.

Many people in Bergen County and Monmouth County, NJ, struggle with anxiety, panic attacks, and OCD despite attending traditional talk therapy. While conversation and reassurance may feel supportive, they often don’t reduce fear, compulsions, or avoidance. At Clear Light Therapy in Englewood, NJ, we specialize in ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), evidence-based approaches that teach clients how to face anxiety, tolerate discomfort, and regain control over their lives. Unlike traditional therapy, ERP and ACT focus on practical skills, in-office exposures, and actionable plans to address panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, and avoidance behaviors.

Panic attacks are one of the most misunderstood anxiety experiences. Many people describe feeling like they are losing control, going crazy, or about to die, even when medical tests show nothing is wrong. The intensity of panic can make the experience feel dangerous, which is why so many people begin fearing the panic attack itself. In this article, we explain why panic attacks feel so overwhelming, why the brain interprets them as emergencies, and why fears about losing control or embarrassing yourself are actually common symptoms of anxiety. Understanding what is happening in your nervous system is often the first step toward reducing fear and breaking the panic cycle. If you’ve ever wondered whether panic attacks are dangerous, whether you can lose your mind, or how therapy can help you feel safe in your own body again, this guide offers clear answers from a clinical perspective.

Finding effective treatment for OCD, anxiety, or eating disorders can feel overwhelming, especially when symptoms overlap or require specialized care. At Clear Light Therapy, our clinicians provide comprehensive, evidence-based care for individuals in Bergen County, Monmouth County, and surrounding New Jersey towns like Englewood, Tenafly, Ridgewood, Saddle River, Rumson, and Red Bank. We combine gold-standard ERP for OCD, IAEDP-informed eating disorder care, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to create individualized treatment plans. Our collaborative, team-based approach includes in-office and telehealth exposures, meal support, and coordination with dietitians and psychiatrists when needed. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, OCD, or eating challenges, we help clients reduce symptoms, regain confidence, and build a life guided by values rather than fear.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can feel overwhelming, especially when intrusive thoughts create intense anxiety and a strong urge to seek certainty or relief. While compulsions may temporarily reduce distress, they ultimately keep the OCD cycle going. Evidence-based treatments such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and cognitive approaches focus on helping individuals change their relationship with anxiety rather than eliminating it entirely. In this guide, we explore ten practical, research-supported strategies for managing OCD, including allowing anxiety to be present, resisting safety behaviors, and learning to sit with uncertainty.

Chronic stress can quietly impact your sleep, mood, concentration, and overall mental health. Many individuals in Bergen County, Monmouth County, and across New Jersey search for stress relief when they begin feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or constantly on edge. Over time, unmanaged stress can worsen anxiety, trigger panic symptoms, increase OCD behaviors, or disrupt eating patterns. Stress therapy offers a structured, evidence-based approach to help you regulate your nervous system, build resilience, and reduce avoidance patterns. Through approaches such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), clients learn practical tools to manage stress effectively while addressing the deeper patterns that maintain it.

Many people notice their world gradually becoming smaller as panic and anxiety begin to influence daily decisions. Fear of panic attacks, driving, crowds, travel, or being alone can lead to avoidance and loss of independence. This article explains how panic disorder and agoraphobia develop, why avoidance strengthens anxiety, and how evidence-based treatments such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) help individuals regain confidence and expand their lives. Written for individuals seeking anxiety, panic, and OCD therapy in Bergen County, NJ and throughout New Jersey.

Panic disorder often begins with unexpected panic attacks and grows into fear of having another one. Many people start avoiding driving, crowds, travel, or situations where escape feels difficult. This article explains how panic disorder develops, why avoidance strengthens anxiety, and how evidence-based treatments such as ERP and ACT help individuals reduce fear and regain confidence. Written for those seeking panic and anxiety therapy in Bergen County, NJ and throughout New Jersey.

Guest post by Anna Urbaniak, PhD. Individuals with OCD often struggle with insomnia as intrusive thoughts and nighttime anxiety make it difficult to fall or stay asleep. This article explains how OCD and sleep problems reinforce each other and outlines evidence-based approaches that help reduce rumination, lower sleep anxiety, and improve both rest and functioning.

Many people who experience panic begin avoiding driving, crowds, travel, or being far from home out of fear of having a panic attack. This article explains why panic becomes linked to leaving the house, how agoraphobia develops, and how evidence-based treatments like ERP and ACT help individuals reduce avoidance and regain independence. Written from an OCD and anxiety treatment perspective for individuals seeking anxiety therapy in Bergen County, NJ.

Struggling with social anxiety in Bergen County, NJ? Learn how social anxiety impacts work, relationships, and daily life, and how ERP and ACT therapy can help reduce fear, compulsions, and worry so you can regain control.

Discover the key differences and overlaps between generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and OCD. Learn how evidence-based therapies like ERP and ACT help clients in Bergen County, NJ and surrounding towns overcome worry, intrusive thoughts, and compulsions.

Confused whether your struggles are OCD or an eating disorder? Discover the differences, how OCD can affect eating, and how Bergen County, NJ therapy using ERP and ACT can help you regain control.

Struggling with anxiety leaving the house or agoraphobia can make daily life feel overwhelming and restrictive. Fear of panic attacks, driving, or traveling often leads to avoidance and a shrinking world. Learn how evidence-based ERP and ACT therapy in Bergen County, NJ can help you regain confidence, independence, and freedom.

The death of a loved one can trigger intense anxiety, even in people who have never struggled with anxiety before. Many individuals experience constant worry, panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, or become a worried parent after a loss. This in-depth guide explores anxiety after death, how grief can contribute to OCD, eating issues, and phobias, and how evidence-based therapy can help individuals and families in Bergen County, New Jersey find relief and regain a sense of safety.

Stress plays a powerful role in anxiety disorders, OCD, panic attacks, and phobias. This in-depth guide explores how chronic stress affects mental health and outlines evidence-based anxiety and OCD treatment options available in Bergen County, NJ, including Englewood and surrounding towns.

This in-depth guide explores holistic approaches to treating anxiety, OCD, panic attacks, and phobias in Bergen County, New Jersey. Learn how evidence-based therapy, including ERP, CBT, and ACT, combined with psychiatric medication when appropriate, supports whole-person recovery. Serving Englewood and surrounding Bergen County towns, this article addresses common anxiety pain points and explains how specialized care can lead to lasting relief.

Struggling with panic attacks in Bergen County, NJ? Panic counseling offers evidence-based support to manage anxiety, reduce fear, and regain control over daily life. Using CBT, ACT, and exposure therapy, trained therapists help you face triggers, reduce avoidance, and build practical coping skills. Residents from Englewood, Tenafly, Ridgewood, Fort Lee, Paramus, Franklin Lakes, Mahwah, Upper Saddle River, Saddle River, Fair Lawn, and Ridgefield benefit from personalized therapy designed to address the physical and emotional impact of panic. Learn strategies to manage symptoms, understand triggers, and regain confidence, while addressing related anxiety, phobias, and avoidance behaviors. With local, expert care, panic attacks no longer need to control your life. Start your journey toward lasting relief with a Bergen County panic counseling specialist today.

Struggling with OCD in Englewood, NJ? ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) therapy helps you face intrusive thoughts, stop compulsions, and regain control. Evidence-based approaches like CBT and ACT complement ERP, reducing anxiety, rumination, and avoidance. Working with a trained OCD specialist in Englewood provides structured, personalized care tailored to your symptoms, whether you experience checking, mental loops, harm OCD, or relationship-focused obsessions. Local therapy in Bergen County, including Tenafly, Ridgewood, Fort Lee, and Paramus, ensures consistent access and community support. Learn practical strategies, understand how ERP works, and discover the benefits of specialized treatment for lasting relief from OCD.

Struggling with OCD in Englewood Cliffs, NJ? Intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and rumination can take over daily life, leaving you anxious and exhausted. Finding the right OCD specialist is crucial for lasting relief. Evidence-based treatments like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) help you regain control, reduce compulsions, and rebuild confidence. Local therapy in Bergen County, including Englewood, Tenafly, Ridgewood, Fort Lee, and Paramus, provides personalized care tailored to your symptoms and goals. Learn how specialized treatment addresses common OCD pain points, including intrusive thoughts, avoidance, mental loops, and anxiety, and discover practical strategies to restore balance in your life.