GAD and separation anxiety Flashcards
Fight or flight response
body’s automatic physiological reaction to a perceived threat or danger, preparing the individual to either fight the threat or flee from it.
activated by sympathetic nervous system
in ppl w/ anxiety, may be overactive or triggered by non-dangerous situations
Three interrelated anxiety
response systems
Physical: brain sends message to sympathetic NS, fight/flight
Cognitive: Activation leads to feelings of apprehension, nervousness, difficulty concentrating, and panic
Behavioral: aggression is coupled with a desire to escape the threatening situation
Anxiety
future-oriented mood state that may occur in absence of realistic danger
fear
present-oriented emotional reaction that occurs in the face of danger and is marked by a strong escape tendency
Panic
a group of physical symptoms of the fight/flight response that unexpectedly occurs in the absence of obvious danger or threat
worry
a repetitive and often uncontrollable thought pattern focused on potential negative outcomes or dangers
irrational, exaggerated, may lead to physical symptoms or avoidance
concern
a reasonable and proportional thought about a genuine problem or situation that may require attention or action
associated w. more focused and practical thinking and are less emotionally distressing
How is the flight or fight response adaptive/helpful? Why might the flight or fight response be maladaptive/harmful? What is the fight or flight response’s role in anxiety?
helpful: helps us stay safe and avoid real danger
harmful: may be too easily triggered and can cause distress over non threats
In anxiety: the brain activates this response when there might not be a threat, causing anxiety symptoms
Who experiences the brunt of functional impairments in separation anxiety disorder? Why is this different than
other anxiety disorders?
The brunt is experienced by caregivers, as they might not be able to leave their child alone. This is different because the individual experiencing symptoms is not experiencing the brunt of functional impairments, someone else is being affected
Why does the prevalence of separation anxiety disorder decrease as children age?
developmental maturation, more emotional regulation skills, more independence skills, understands that temporary separation is normal and not inherently dangerous
What differentiates normative anxiety from clinical levels of anxiety
frequency, severity, and duration
What are the diagnostic criteria associated with separation anxiety disorder?
distress when anticipation or experiencing separation from attachment figures, persistent worry about losing attachments, worry about getting lost or kidnapped, refusal to go out or away from attachment, fear of being alone, refusal to sleep away from home or without being close to attachment figure, nightmares, physical symptoms
at least 4 weeks
What are the diagnostic criteria associated with generalized anxiety disorder?
excessive worry for 6 months, cant control the worry, 3 or more
restlessness, fatigue, cant concentrate, irritability, muscle tension, sleep disturbance
How do the worries associated with generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, social anxiety, and OCD overlap?
How are they different?
They all experience the same types of symptoms, but each are attributed to different things.
How does genetic risk for anxiety disorders interplay with environmental risk factors for developing an anxiety
disorder?
if someone has a genetic background of anxiety and they experience stress, trauma, or adversity in life, they are more likely to also have anxiety
