N-H Ch5 Flashcards
Fight or Flight Response
A set of physical and psychological responses that help us fight a threat or flee from it. The physio-logical changes of the fight-or-flight response result from the activation of two systems controlled by the hypothalamus, as seen in Figure 1: the autonomic nervous system (in particular, the sympathetic division of this system) and the adrenal-cortical system (a hormone-releasing system)
A quote; “When we face a threat or stressor, the hypothalamus first activates the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. This system acts directly on the smooth muscles and internal organs to pro-duce key bodily changes: The liver releases extra sugar (glucose) to fuel the muscles, and the body’s metabolism increases in preparation for expending energy on physical action. Heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate increase, and the muscles tense. Less essential activities, such as digestion, are curtailed. Saliva and mucus dry up, increasing the size of the air passages to the lungs. The body secretes endorphins, which are natural painkillers, and the surface blood vessels constrict to reduce bleeding in case of injury. The spleen releases more red blood cells to help carry oxygen.”
Trauma
Events in which individuals are exposed to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violation. In addition, in the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and acute stress disorder, the DSM-5 requires that individuals either directly experience or witness the traumatic event, learn that the event happened to someone they are close to, or experience repeated or extreme exposure to the details of a traumatic event (as do first responders at a tragedy)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
A psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event.
Four types of symptoms:
Re-experiencing: PTSD sufferers may experience intrusive images or thoughts, recurring nightmares, or flashbacks in which they relive the event. Memories of the World Trade Center attack intrude into a PTSD victims’ consciousness against their will, particularly when they encounter something that reminds them of the event.
Persistent avoidance: Avoidance of situations, thoughts, or memories associated with the trauma. People will shun activities, places, or other people that remind them of the event.
Negative changes in thought and mood: People may not be able to remember aspects of the trauma. They may unrealistically blame themselves or others for the event and feel permanently damaged. They may report “survivor guilt” about having lived through the traumatic event or about things they had to do to survive.
Hypervigilance and chronic arousal: People with PTSD are always on guard for the traumatic event to recur. Sounds or images that remind them of their trauma can instantly create panic and flight. A war veteran, hearing a car backfire, may jump into a ditch and begin to have flashbacks of the war, reexperiencing the terror he or she felt on the front lines.
Adjustment disorder
Another trauma- and stress-related diagnosis. Consists of emotional and behavioral symptoms (depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and/or antisocial behaviors) that arise within 3 months of the experience of a stressor. The stressors that lead to adjustment disorder can be of any severity, while those that lead to PTSD and acute stress disorder are, by definition, extreme.
Stress-inoculation therapy
Therapists teach clients skills for overcoming problems in their lives that increase their stress and problems that may result from PTSD, such as marital problems or social isolation.
Natural environment type phobias
Focus on events or situations in the natural environment, such as storms, heights, or water. Mild to moderate fears of these natural events or situations are extremely com-mon and are adaptive in that they help us avoid danger. A diagnosis of phobia is warranted only when people reorganize their lives to avoid the feared situations or have severe anxiety attacks when confronted with them
Situational type phobias
Involve fear of public transportation, tunnels, bridges, elevators, flying, or driving. Claustrophobia, or fear of enclosed spaces, is a common situational phobia.
Blood-injection-injury type phobias
Diagnosed in people who fear seeing blood or an injury. Whereas people with another type of specific phobia typically experience increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and other fight-or-flight responses when confronted with their feared object or situation, people with blood-injection-injury type phobia experience significant drops in heart rate and blood pressure and are likely to faint.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Diagnosed when either obsessions, compulsions, or both are present to a significant degree.
