Week 4 Flashcards
define anxiety
- a subjectively distressful experience activated by the perception of threat, which has both a potential psychological and physiological etiology and expression
- an emotion characterized by apprehension or dread of a potentially threatening or uncertain outcome
what can trigger anxiety
- the perception of a threat
how is anxiety manifested
- in physical, emotional, cognitive, and/or behavioral ways
what is the difference between anxiety and fear
- anxiety is a vague sense of dread related to an
unspecified or unknown danger - fear is a reaction to a real or perceived specific danger
a normal response to anxiety includes changes in… (2)
- physiological arousal
- cognitive processes
- coping strategies
what physiological arousal occurs in response to anxiety
- flight or fight response
- freeze response
what cognitive processes occur in response to anxiety
- deciphers whether the threat should be approached or avoided
why are coping strategies employed in response to anxiety
- to resolve the threat
what are some examples of how anxiety can be motivating (5)
can act as a:
- warning sign (to bring attention to something that may need to be changed in one’s life)
- motivating (incentive to take action)
- built-in warning system (help one react to keep themselves safe)
- positive characteristic in one’s makeup (tend to be more empathetic, understanding, and supportive)
- leadership trait (good problem-solvers, decision-makers, contemplating consequences of decisions)
describe the scope of anxiety
ranges from:
no anxiety –> mild anxiety –> moderate anxiety –> severe anxiety –> panic
see pg. 202 of textbook for symptoms of each lvl
what are benefits of mild anxiety (4)
- increases lvls of energy
- motivates individuals on a day-to-day basis
- increases ability to be productive, creative, learn, and problem solve
- can cause “excitement”
what are some physical signs of mild anxety (4)
- butterflies
- increased HR
- pupils dilate
- perspiring
what changes occur w moderate anxiety (3)
- perceptual field decreases
- increasingly needs direction to learn, needs help focusing
- selective inattention (may fail to notice enviro stimuli unless brought to notice)
what are some physical signs of moderate anxiety (4)
- shakiness
- frequent urination
- increased resp
- nausea
what changes occur w severe anxiety (2)
- focuses on small or scattered details
- unable to problem-solve even w assistant
what are some physical signs of severe anxiety (6)
- rapid pulse
- dyspnea
- chest pain
- nausea, upset stomach
- diarrhea
- feeling of “impending doom”
what changes occur w panic (5)
- sense of terror/loss of control
- complete disorganization of thoughts
- unable to do things even w direction
- hyperactive, agitated
- may be dangerous or aggressive
what physical signs occur w panic (7)
- may feel like a heart attack
- palpitations, pounding heart
- feelings of choking
- dizziness, light headedness
- feelings of unreality
- paraesthesia
- fear of losing control, fear of dying
how do we protect ourselves from anxiety?
- coping/defence mechanisms
* see page 205 for different types of defence mechanisms*
what concepts are interrelated w anxiety (4)
- interpersonal violence
- stress
- coping
- mood & affect
what is the most common mental health problem in Canada
- anxiety disorders
describe who anxiety disorders affect (3)
- individuals of all ages
- higher in women than men
- affect 12% of the population
what are types of anxiety disorders (4)
- panic disorders
- generalized anxiety disorder
- phobias
- OCD
what is considered generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- excessive anxiety for 6 months or more
what are some signs of GAD (6)
- persistent and chronic signs of severe anxiety
- chronic hyperviligance for potential threats
- displays of impatience, irritability, feeling “on edge”
- chronically tense, apprehensive
- fatigue r/t sleep distrubances, long-term depression
- mixed anxiety-depression
what is the impact of GAD
- interferes w ADLs
- difficult to manage or control
what is a phobia
- phobia is a persistent, irrational fear of a specific object, activity, or situation that leads to a desire for avoidance or to actual avoidance of the object, activity, or situation despite the awareness and reassurance that it is not dangerous
what is social phobia (3)? what is it also known as
- fear of embarressment, humilitation, and being exposed to the scrutiny of what is in other people’s minds
- extreme shyness
- with or without agoraphobia
- aka social anxiety disorder
what is agoraphobia
- When individuals actively avoid situations from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing or in which help might not be available if panic-like symptoms were to occur
what is included in management of phobic disorders (2)
- exposure therapy
- cognitive behavior therapy
describe panic disorder
- recurrent persistent attacks
what are characteristics of panic disorders
- worry about having more attacks
- worry about implications of an attack (losing mind, dying, etc.)
- may be unpredictable in onset but often occurs in certain situations
- normal becomes abnormal when panic is experiences routinely or in situations that dont pose threats
define: panic attack
- intense fear or discomfort coming on abruptly and peaking within 10 minutes with 4 or more specific characteristics occur
what characteristics are considered w panic attacks (11)
- palpitations, pounding heart, accelerated heart rate
- sweating
- trembling, shaking
- SOB, feeling of choking
- chest pain or discomfort
- nausea, abdominal distress
- feeling dizzy, unsteady, light headed, faint, numbness, tingling
- chills, hot flsuhes
- derealisation, depersonalization
- fear of losing control
- fear of dying
define: obsessions
- involuntary, recurrent, persistant thoughts, impulses, or images
define: compulsions
- ritualistic behaviors the individual is compelled to perform
describe OCD
- includes obsessions & compulsions
- action prevents or reduces anxiety (“magical thinking”)
what is a form of OCD
- hoarding
what plays a role in anxiety disorders (5)
- genetic predisposition
- biochem (neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine, norepi, gaba)
- enviro factors/life experiences (early G&D, family enviro, trauma, stressful events)
- behavioralist theory (anxiety is learned)
- cognitive theory
describe cognitive theory r/t anxiety
- anxiety bc of irrational beliefs
- persons believe or predict that the result of a specific situation will be embarrassing or harmful
describe anxiety in infants
- stranger anxiety –> fear of unknown people, clinging to parents
describe anxiety in toddlers (10-18 months)
- separation anxiety (anxious when one or both parents are absent)
describe anxiety in children (4-6 years)
- anxiety of non-reality based things (ex. monsters)
describe anxiety in older children (7-12 years)
- anxiety of potential threats (natural disaster, bodily injury)
what is the key to assessment of anxiety
- a careful detailed history based on respectful reflective probing and listening skills
what should be assessed for r/t anxiety
- onset, freq, duration, type, severity
- impairment of function
- degree of avoidance
- harmfulness of rituals
- what makes it worse
- what helps alleviate it? (coping mechanisms)
what can be used to assess anxiety
- anxiety scales
* see page 219-220 of textbook*