Anxiety Disorders Flashcards
what are some of the traits of anxiety?
apprehension
uneasiness
uncertainty
dread
real or perceived threat
what is the most common mental illness?
anxiety
what happens with deep level anxiety?
erodes self-esteem/worth
what is mild anxiety?
tension of day-to-day living
increased alertness/awareness/focus
wide perception- think and see things more clear
motivates learning and creativity
what are physical symptoms of mild anxiety?
only slight discomfort
fidgeting
what is moderate anxiety?
more disturbing- know something wrong- nervous/agitated
focuses only on immediate concerns
narrows perceptual field as person, sees, hears, and grasps less
selective inattention
can learn and problem solve- but not as well- will need direction
what is selective inattention?
only certain things are seen and heard- unless pointed out
what physical symptoms happen with moderate anxiety?
increased muscular tension in the neck and shoulder, restlessness, increased HR, increased RR, sweating, mild somatic discomfort: gastric discomfort, headache, urinary urgency
what is severe anxiety?
client can only focus on one specific detail and nothing else
attention span extremely limited; difficulty completing tasks- cannot learn, think, or problem solve- feel dazed or confused
automatic behavior focused on relieving anxiety
what are the symptoms of severe anxiety?
increased physical and emotional symptoms
headache, nausea, dizzy, insomnia, trembling, hyperventilation, impending doom/dread
what is panic?
dread and terror- fight, flight, freeze
person unable to communicate or function effectively
no learning or comprehension- unable to focus on even 1 detail
may lose contact with reality- psychosis- experience hallucinations or delusions
worse somatic symptoms
what are some behaviors with panic?
screaming
pacing
running
shouting or extreme withdrawal- greatly increased vital signs
can feel as if the person is having a heart attack
what are the physical symptoms of anxiety?
heart pounding
flushing
SOB
dizziness
sweating
headache
dry mouth
stomach pains
nausea
diarrhea
muscle aches/pains
restlessness
inability to relax
what are the psychological symptoms of anxiety?
excessive worry
irritability
impatience
feeling “on edge”
fatigue
vivid dreams
mind racing
mind going blank
indecisiveness
difficulty concentrating
decreased memory
what are behavioral symptoms of anxiety?
obsessive or compulsive behavior
phobic behavior
avoidance of situations
distress in social situations
what are anxiety defense mechanisms?
automatic coping styles that protect from anxiety- lessen discomfort/feel in control
can be unconscious
adaptive or maladaptive
what is the compensation defense mechanism?
covers up for a perceived weakness by strongly emphasizing a feature that he/she considers more desirable
what is the denial defense mechanism?
avoidance of disagreeable realities by ignoring or refusing to recognize them; the simplest and most primitive of all defense mechanisms
what is the displacement defense mechanism?
shift of emotion from a person or object to another, usually neutral or less dangerous, person, or object
what is the dissociation defense mechanism?
the separation of group of mental or behavioral processes from the rest of the person’s consciousness or identity
what is the identification defense mechanism?
process by which a person tries to become like someone he or she admires by taking on thoughts, mannerisms or tastes of that person
what is the intellectualization defense mechanism?
excessive reasoning or logic is used to avoid experiencing disturbing feelings
what is the introjection defense mechanism?
intense identification in which a person incorporates qualities or values of another person or group into his/her own ego structure; it is one of the earliest mechanisms of the child, important in formation of conscience
what is the isolation defense mechanism?
splitting off of emotional components of a thought, which may be temporary or long term
what is the projection defense mechanism?
attributing one’s thoughts or impulses to another person; through this process one can attribute intolerable wishes, emotional feelings, or motivation to another person
what is the rationalization defense mechanism?
offering a socially acceptable or apparently logical explanation to justify or make acceptable otherwise unacceptable impulses, feelings, behaviors, and motives
what is the reaction formation defense mechanism?
development of conscious attitudes and behavior patterns that are opposite to what one really feels or would like to do
what is the regression defense mechanism?
retreat to behavior characteristic of an earlier level of development
what is the splitting defense mechanism?
viewing people and situations as either all good or all bad; failure to integrate the positive and negative qualities of oneself
what is the sublimation defense mechanism?
acceptance of socially approved substitute goal for a drive whose normal channel of expression is blocked
what is the suppression defense mechanism?
a process often listed as a defense mechanism, but is conscious counterpart of repression; it is intentional exclusion of material from consciousness; at times, it may lead to repression
what is the undoing defense mechanism?
act or communication that partially negates a previous one; a primitive defense mechanism
when is anxiety pathologic?
interferes with life- achievement of goals or satisfaction, or reasonable emotional comfort
it’s out of proportion to situation creating it
interferes with social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning
what gender is anxiety disorder more prevalent in?
women
who is at high risk for anxiety disorders?
< 45 years old
separated or divorced
low socioeconomic
what happens to around 90% of those with anxiety disorder?
they develop another psychiatric disorder
what happens in elderly people with the combination of depressive and anxiety symptoms?
decreases social functioning and increases somatic symptoms
what are the genetic risk factors for anxiety disorders?
cluster in families
abnormality in gene that controls protein cholecystokinin
if mother has high stress during the pregnancy, it could cause the development of anxiety in the fetus
how are the neurotransmitters with anxiety disorders?
decrease GABA
increase norepinephrine
decrease serotonin subtypes
what are the psychological risk factors for anxiety disorder?
Psychodynamic- Freud
Interpersonal- Sullivan
Cognitive
behavioral-learning
active avoidance
passive avoidance
what is the psychodynamic- Freud theory?
unconscious childhood conflicts repressed
unsatisfactory parent-child relationship (conditional love)
ego defense mechanism used
what is the interpersonal- Sullivan theory?
early needs go unmet
anxiety experienced early in life then is model for anxiety experienced later with unpleasant events occur
what is the cognitive theory with the psychological risk factors for anxiety disorder?
faulty, distorted, counterproductive thinking and perceiving
negative self statements/irritational beliefs
what is behavioral-learning?
learned response that can be unlearned
conditioned response to traumatic event
what is active avoidance?
can’t avoid
engage in behaviors that provide relief or maladaptive coping mechanisms
what is passive avoidance?
staying away
what is normal with separation anxiety?
8 months; peaks at 18 months then should decline
what is the abnormality with separation anxiety disorder?
developmentally inappropriate level of concern of being away from significant other
something horrible will happen- permanent separation
what are risk factors for separation anxiety disorder?
significant loss through death
change in environment
physical or sexual assault
genetic link
what are panic attacks?
sudden onset
rapid, intense, escalating anxiety
apprehension, fear, or terror
feelings of impending doom
intense physical discomfort
unpredictable- does not occur immediately before or on exposure to situation that usually causes anxiety (as with a specific phobia)
how long do panic attacks last?
last few minutes to 15 minutes
what is associated with depression and substance abuse?
panic attacks
how many symptoms needs to be present for it to be called a panic attack?
4 or more