Health Expert Dr. Diana L Walcutt shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/73076/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/73076/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/73076/index http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/53292/fired Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:03:22 -0500 Dr. Diana L Walcutt Can you imagine how awful it is to lose one's job right before the holidays? Unfortunately, many, many people are being laid off or being fired in this ugly economy. Just think about the auto workers, the retail personnel, and even bank staff. Not just upper and middle management, they are probably getting nice bonuses this year, but the everyday folks that need every penny they can scrap up.   What should one do if this happens to you?... http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/53292/fired http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/52586/tis-season-nervous Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:29:00 -0500 Dr. Diana L Walcutt Or, is it? When I think about all the nonsense involved in these upcoming holidays, I wonder: what has ever happened to the true meaning of these special times? Regardless of the holiday you are celebrating, many of us have lost focus and are rushing about to buy the best gift for our loved ones. That, and we have to make sure this particular season that we are getting the best deal possible.   I have many friends who have opted to... http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/52586/tis-season-nervous http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/51759/meds Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:57:05 -0500 Dr. Diana L Walcutt You know, as a Psychologist, I do understand that it can be very hard to take medications, especially if you don't like the side effects, or don't feel like you need the meds anymore.   But Cindy McCain (Sen. John McCain's wife) didn't see the need to take her blood pressure medications, since she was "feeling fine" in the months before she nearly died from a stroke. Unfortunately, she is not unusual in this; we feel ok, and so we take... http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/51759/meds http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/45654/anxiety-anxious Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:20:53 -0400 Dr. Diana L Walcutt Women may be more stressed but more men die when there's a financial disaster. There are a number of reasons for this and some may not be obvious.   It's well known that men are more aggressive and that is primarily due to testosterone levels. While women have testosterone in their systems, men obviously have far more. Testosterone is known for the alpha dog syndrome, in which men have to dominate each other. You can see this in sibling... http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/45654/anxiety-anxious http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/44294/anxiety-athlete Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:25:32 -0400 Dr. Diana L Walcutt   You know, Michael Phelps is from my hometown, Towson, Maryland and no, I don't know him personally. I have seen him around town several times and have been known to swim where he trained, however, we aren't buds.   But I can offer you this: I have competed at pretty high levels on horseback, and not so high levels of downhill skiing, ice skating, shooting, and dance. What I have learned over the years is that it's MUCH easier to... http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/44294/anxiety-athlete http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/40877/benzodiazepines Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:24:41 -0400 Dr. Diana L Walcutt I cannot tell you how many times I read this question. Yes, people are often using brand names, but they are asking whether they are safe, how much they can take, if they can change the dose or stop taking it without asking their doctors.   Just so we know what we are talking about, Benzo's go by many brand names, such as:   Xanax, Librium, Valium, alprazolam, Ativan, Elavil, Kalma; Xet, Clonazepam, triazolam, lorezapam,... http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/40877/benzodiazepines http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/34334/breathing-lessons Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:26:38 -0400 Dr. Diana L Walcutt Breathing Lessons Do you think you know how to breathe properly? We bet you don't! Ninety percent of the people we ask don't breathe in a way that can help them master their stress. It truly is something that you have to learn and practice, practice, practice for over two weeks before you can get it right!4 x 4 BREATHING EXERCISEThis is called the 4 by 4 breathing exercise because you should practice it for 4 minutes 4 times a day to learn to... http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/34334/breathing-lessons http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/33984/tragedy-ptsd Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:41:00 -0400 Dr. Diana L Walcutt Some of you may have already read the article in the Sunday Washington Post, "Ricochet; My shot made Joseph Dwyer famous. Did it also help lead to his death?" If you haven't, you might want to. It's about this young medic, Joseph Dwyer, who was photographed during the 2003 invasion, running toward safety with an injured Iraqi child in his arms. Dwyer was found dead in his apartment a week ago, having overdosed on drugs. We know that... http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/33984/tragedy-ptsd http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/33594/anxious-teenager Fri, 11 Jul 2008 23:57:07 -0400 Dr. Diana L Walcutt We've all heard the stories; nice homes, good kids and then the awful happens. The teenager gets caught with drugs in the school parking lot, he is sassing his parents in public, she's cutting herself or the child next door hangs himself. Where in the world did this come from? She was a great student until she hit puberty; he was happy, athletic, and sociable until he started playing computer games all day. It seems as though they've withdrawn... http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/33594/anxious-teenager http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/32614/knowledge-power Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:21:52 -0400 Dr. Diana L Walcutt When you're anxious, or after a panic attack, I'm sure that you can tell me what you are feeling and and perhaps, you can even describe what you were thinking during your anxiety or a panic attack. But there is something else going on, a physical component that can be as much, or even more powerful than what you are feeling or thinking. Some people like the thrill of excitement, or the "adrenaline rush" as we call it. Another term for this is... http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/32614/knowledge-power