Don't Let Anxiety Make You an April Fool

Dear Light On Anxiety Community,

Welcome to our April edition! If you're feeling overwhelmed by today's fast-paced, tech-driven world, you're not alone—we've got top tips to help your brain better handle uncertainty. Parents, we hear you too, and we're sharing practical advice for helping your child sleep independently and swallow pills with ease. Plus, give your brain a fun cognitive recharge, learn about effective ways to manage skin picking, and discover our Intensive Treatment service—a powerful bridge between weekly therapy and IOP/PHP programs. Let's embrace spring with clarity, confidence, and support!

Warmly,
Dr. Debra Kissen

In This Issue:

How Scheduling “Worry Time” Can Shrink Your Anxiety: Learn how a 10-minute CBT strategy can quiet constant what-ifs and give your mind the clarity and calm it’s been missing.
Afraid of the Unknown? Here are 15 Powerful Tools That Will Rewire Your Brain to Tolerate Uncertainty: Dr. Debra Kissen shares 15 powerful tools to help you stop spiraling and start embracing life’s unpredictability with more peace and self-trust.
Parents, We’ve Got You: 11 Tips to Help Your Child Sleep Alone + 10 Tips to Teach Them to Swallow Pills: If bedtime battles or pill panic are running your household, these tips will help your child build confidence and reduce anxiety around everyday routines.
Need a Cognitive Re-Charge? Here Are 10 Tips to Train Your Brain, Have Fun, and Stay Sharp: Feeling mentally foggy? These brain-boosting exercises from Dr. Kissen are quick, fun, and proven to improve memory, focus, and agility.
Can’t Stop Picking at Your Skin? These 5 Tips Help You Break the Habit: Explore CBT-based tools to retrain your brain, reduce the urge to pick, and reclaim control over body-focused repetitive behaviors.
Post IOP/PHP But Need More Than Weekly Therapy? Here’s Your Next Step: Our Intensive Treatment for Anxiety & OCD offers the support and structure you need to maintain progress and avoid getting stuck between care levels.

How Scheduling “Worry Time” Can Shrink Your Anxiety

If your brain feels stuck in a loop of what-ifs and worst-case scenarios, you’re not alone. Chronic worry can hijack your entire day. In this CBS Mental Health Minute, Dr. Debra Kissen introduces Worry Time—a powerful CBT strategy that helps you contain anxious thoughts, reduce mental noise, and take back control. Learn how a few minutes a day can create more calm, clarity, and focus.

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Afraid of the Unknown? These Top Tips Will Rewire Your Brain to Tolerate Uncertainty

In today’s 24-hour news cycle and fast-paced, tech-charged world, it’s easy to feel out of control—leading to overpreparing, reassurance-seeking, and analysis loops that only feed your anxiety. Dr. Debra Kissen breaks down how your brain responds to uncertainty and shares 15 actionable CBT and ERP tools to help you break free from the fear of the unknown and start embracing life with more flexibility, peace, and self-trust.

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Parents, We’ve Got You: 11 Tips to Help Your Child Sleep Alone + 10 Tips to Teach Them to Swallow Pills

If your child refuses to sleep alone or panics at the sight of a pill, you’re not just dealing with stubbornness. These daily struggles often signal anxiety, lack of confidence, or sensory overwhelm. Dr. Debra Kissen shares 11 strategies to help your child build the confidence to sleep in their own bed and 10 practical tips to make pill-swallowing less stressful for both of you.

TIPS TO SLEEP ALONE

TIPS TO SWALLOW PILLS

Need a Cognitive Re-charge? Here Are 10 Tips to Train Your Brain, Have Fun, and Stay Sharp!

In a world of constant distractions, it’s easy to feel mentally sluggish or unfocused. But according to Dr. Debra Kissen, cognitive strength is something you can train. In this article, she shares 10 fun, science-backed brain exercises designed to boost memory, sharpen focus, and increase mental agility. Whether you’re a student, professional, or busy parent, these quick activities can help you stay sharp and feel more mentally energized—starting today.

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Can’t Stop Picking at Your Skin? These 5 Tips Will Help You Break the Habit

Skin picking, or dermatillomania, is a body-focused repetitive behavior (BFRB) driven by the brain’s instinct to “fix” perceived flaws. In this guide, Dr. Debra Kissen explains how CBT, Habit Reversal Training (HRT), and the COMB model work together to help you identify triggers, retrain your brain, and reduce the urge to pick. If you’ve felt stuck, ashamed, or out of control, this article offers a clear, practical path toward lasting change.

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Post IOP/PHP But Need More Than Weekly Therapy? Here’s Your Next Step

Light On Anxiety’s Intensive Treatment for Anxiety & OCD offers a flexible, evidence-based bridge between standard therapy and higher levels of care. With 2 to 5 individual sessions per week, you’ll receive structured support, faster progress, and proven CBT, ERP, and ACT strategies to help you regain control and stay on track. Not sure if this is the right next step for you? Take the assessment, read more about treatment options, or explore our service to learn more.

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TAKE THE ASSESSMENT

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