Anxiety Disorders Flashcards
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a subjective feeling experienced in response to a stress. It is often considered an ‘everyday’ experience and can occur in lots of situations in our lives (i.e. the first day of a job, going into an interview, giving a speech, having a flight with a loved one, being lost in a city, sitting for an exam).
Whats factors influence anxiety?
- Personality factors (i.e. how a person copes with grief, loss or anger)
- Cognitive factors (i.e. how a person perceives an event; as a challenge or as a threat)
- Physical factors (i.e. how a person’s body responds to stress)
- Environmental factors (i.e. current season or climate)
- Cultural factors (i.e. influences from religion, family, community, etc)
- Coping strategies (i.e. our usual methods of managing stress)
When is anxiety considered unhealthy?
Unhealthy anxiety is anxiety that stops a person from doing daily activities, or activities which they used to be able to do. For many people, anxiety makes the person feel like there is ‘something in their way’ and therefore impossible to do
How does severe anxiety manifest?
- thoughts (i.e., excessive worry or an intrusive unwanted idea)
- feelings (i.e., feelings of impending doom)
- behaviours (i.e. performing repetitive actions or avoiding objects or situations)
- physical change (i.e., increased heart rate, trembling)
What are some anxiety-related disorders?
- Panic Disorder
- Phobia
- Obsessive-compulsion disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Whats are some signs and symptoms of a panic attack?
- Palpation, tachycardia,
- sweating,
- shaking or trembling,
- feeling of being choked,
- chest pain/discomfort,
- nausea/abdominal distress,
- dizziness/fainitng,
- feelins of fear of losing control, feelings od fear of dying,
- chills/hot flashes,
- shortness of breath
What are some nursing consideration in relation to anxiety?
- Encourage a calm and safe environment
- Identify thoughts or feelings prior to experiencing anxiety.
- Identify any negative ‘self talk’ the person may use (e.g “I’ll never be able to do that”)
- Encourage relaxation techniques and other healthy ways to manage anxiety.
- Promoting sleep – anxiety and poor sleep are closely connected.
What are anxiolytics?
- Medications which inhibit anxiety and inhibit panic
- Are addictive and should be used for less than two weeks
- Most common type is ‘Benzodiazepines’ (eg Valium)
What are the half life of Benzodiazepines?
- Long – Diazepam
- Intermediate – Oxazepam
- Short – Lorazepam (used in acute situations, can be oral or IM) Need to monitor resp rate
- Ultra- short – Midazolam
What do you need to monitor when short and ultra short benzodiazepines are used?
Respiratory rate
What are the side effects of Benzodiazepines?
- Sedation
- Drowsiness
- Amnesia
- Dizziness
- Rebound anxiety
- Dissociation / feeling of detachment
What are Contraindications & precautions of Benzodiazepines?
Not to be taken with other CNS depressants
Interacts with:
- Alcohol
- MAOIs
- Phenytoin
- Antacids
- Anticholinergics
Potential for addictions
What are Hypnotics?
- A stronger type of Benzodiazepines
- Used for sleep or partial loss of consciousness
- Newer non- Benzodiazepines hypnotics have fewer side effects
- Recommended for short-term use due to dependence
What are the side effects of hypnotics?
- Tolerance (after 2-4 weeks)
- Rebound insomnia
- Broken sleep
- Hangover
- Inappropriate sedation
- Dependence
What is the most common therapy for anxiety
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).
