Anxiety Flashcards
Define anxiety
a vague, subjective, nonspecific feeling of uneasiness, tension, apprehension, or impending death (normal human response, universal problem)
Anxiety is NOT the same as….
stress
Define stress
an external pressure or demand brought upon individual, regardless of whether the demand is pleasant or not.
Anxiety is the response to….
the stressor
Examples of stressors
physical (noise, drugs, burns, disease, pain, running a race) and emotional (diagnosis of CA, promotion at work, failing an exam, financial loss, winning a contest, watching a loved one die)
Statistics
1/4 adults will suffer from an anxiety disorder
Description of anxiety
normal reaction, necessary for survival of self preservation, a warning sign of a danger/threat, occurs in degrees, alerts person to prepare to defend self, is contagious and easily communicated, part of a process not phenomenon, an emotion and subjective individual experience, provoked by the unknown: precedes all new experiences, causes a person to be apprehensive, pathological
Anxiety is pathological when:
the response is greatly disproportionate to the risk and severity of the danger or threat, continues beyond the existence of a potential danger or threat, and intellectual, social, or occupational functioning is impaired.
Causes of anxiety
health (ability to take care of self or function is usual role), self-esteem/self respect, independence, goals or expectations, loss of a loved one, perceptions of threat loss or danger
Symptoms of anxiety
CV: increased HR, palpitations, RESP: hyperventilation, increased RR, choking sensation, SOB, pressure on chest, GI: IBS, nausea/vomit, anorexia, stomach ulcer,NEURO: dizziness, easily startled, insomnia, UT: polyuria, pressure to urinate, SKIN: flushed, pale, sweating, hives, red blemishes, hot/cold spells,
Manifestations of anxiety
Behavioral: fast talking, phys. tension, pacing, flight, avoidance, tremors, restlessness, wringing hands, Cognitive: racing thoughts, lack of coordination, confusion, forgetfulness, decreased attention span, lack of objectivity, decreased perception, nightmares, fear of injury/death, Affective: anxious mood, edginess, uneasiness, nervousness, impatience, fright, tension
NP of anxiety
Assessment: sub., obj. data, (consider symptoms, medical cause, defense mechanisms, social worker, psych eval.) Nursing Dx, EO, NI, maintain calm manner, encourage pt to talk, teach and encourage, adm. meds., decrease sensory overload, Eval,
Defense mechanisms
normal responses to stressful and anxiety provoking situations, they protect the individual and diminish anxiety. Ex: Denial, rationalization, and intellectualization.
Denial
unconscious refusal to admit an unacceptable idea or behavior
Rationalization
attempts to make or prove that ones feelings or behaviors are justified
