Dr. Jordan Ellis
PhD, Clinical Psychology
Dr. Jordan Ellis is a clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety disorders and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.
Q: What is the difference between normal stress and an anxiety disorder?
A: Stress is typically a reaction to an external trigger (like a deadline or a financial bill) and dissipates once the trigger is resolved. Anxiety, however, is a persistent internal reaction characterized by excessive apprehension even in the absence of an immediate external stressor.
Q: How can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) help?
A: CBT focuses on identifying cognitive distortions—unhelpful patterns of thinking like catastrophizing or black-and-white thinking—and teaching you how to actively challenge and reframe those thoughts with evidence-based reasoning.
Q: What somatic tools can I use during a panic attack?
A: Engage the 5-4-3-2-1 sensory grounding technique: name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can physically feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. This pulls your nervous system out of cognitive panic and back into immediate physical reality.
Managing anxiety is about developing a toolbox of mental and physical skills. In this conversation, Dr. Ellis breaks down the best tools to regain calm and control.
