Week 6 - Anxiety

Question 1

What is anxiety?

Answer 1

A normal emotion and a powerful motivator

Question 2

What is fear?

Answer 2

Response to imminent real or perceived threat.

Question 3

What is an anxiety disorder?

Answer 3

A mental health disorder characterised by feelings of worry, anxiety or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one’s daily activities.

Question 4

What are long term causes anxiety?

Answer 4

Genetics
Childhood development - Parental anxiety, highly critical, unreachable standards, family conflict, cumulative stress and activation of neuronal circuitry
Biological - neurotransmitters (GABA)

Question 5

What are short term causes of anxiety?

Answer 5

Significant personal loss
Significant life change
Stimulants and illicit drugs
Phobic conditioning/Associative learning
Trauma

Question 6

What makes someone more prone to anxiety?

Answer 6

Avoidance
Anxious self talk
High stress life events
Stimulants
Lack of self care
Lack of meaning or purpose
Absence of coping mechanisms

Question 7

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

Answer 7

Fight or flight response
Increased heart rate
Rapid breathing
Tremor
Sweating
Nausea

Question 8

How are acute symptoms of anxiety managed?

Answer 8

Education about why sensations occur
That they do not mean harm or injury
Strategies to reduce intensity in the moment

Question 9

How are long term anxiety symptoms managed?

Answer 9

Coping strategies
Understanding the changing though patterns
Medications

Question 10

What is separation anxiety disorder?

Answer 10

A disorder in which a child becomes excessively anxious when separated from parents.

Question 11

When is the peak incidence of separation anxiety disorder?

Answer 11

6-8 years

Question 12

How does separation anxiety disorder initially present?

Answer 12

With refusal to go to school

Question 13

How can separation anxiety disorder be treated?

Answer 13

Family education and support
Age appropriate skills training
Graded exposure

Question 14

What is selective mutism?

Answer 14

A severe anxiety disorder where a person is unable to speak in certain social situations, such as with classmates at school or to relatives they do not see very often.

Question 15

How is selective mutism managed?

Answer 15

CBT
Anxiety management strategies
Facilitating child’s independence
Specialised assessment to ensure no underlying communication delays or disorders

Question 16

What is panic disorder?

Answer 16

Panic disorder refers to the experience of recurrent and disabling panic attacks which last up to a few minutes and are accompanied by physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, shaking, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

Question 17

What are the symptoms of panic disorder?

Answer 17

Palpitations
Sweating
SOB
choking
chest pain
GIT upset
dizziness
pins and needles
chills or flushing

Question 18

When does panic disorder begin?

Answer 18

In teens or early twenties

Question 19

Are men or women more likely to experience panic disorder?

Answer 19

Women are twice as likely than men.

Question 20

What is agoraphobia?

Answer 20

Fear of places and situations that might cause panic, helplessness or embarrassment.

Question 21

How is agoraphobia managed?

Answer 21

Education
Breathing and mindfulness training
Graded exposure

Question 22

What is generalised anxiety disorder?

Answer 22

Severe, ongoing anxiety that interferes with daily activities that can be accompanied by muscle tension, hyperarousal and fight or flight symptoms

Question 23

How is GAD managed?

Answer 23

Education
Progressive muscle relaxation
Structured problem solving
CBT
Stress management
Graded exposure
Avoidance of unhealthy coping strategies

Question 24

What is social anxiety disorder?

Answer 24

A chronic mental health condition in which social interactions cause irrational anxiety. For people with social anxiety disorder, everyday social interactions cause irrational anxiety, fear, self-consciousness and embarrassment.

Question 25

What are the symptoms of social anxiety disorder?

Answer 25

Excessive fear of situations in which one may be judged
Worry about embarrassment or humiliation
Concern about offending someone.
Difficult events are avoided or endured with intense anxiety

Question 26

How is social anxiety disorder managed?

Answer 26

Education
CBT
Graded exposure
Social skills training

Question 27

What is specific phobia?

Answer 27

Excessive fear of a specific object or situation

Question 28

What is substance/medication induced anxiety disorder?

Answer 28

Anxiety symptoms are brought on by use of or withdrawal from alcohol or other drugs, taking medications or exposure to heavy metals or toxic substances.

Question 29

What other conditions can cause anxiety disorder?

Answer 29

Cardiovascular diseases - hypertension etc
Pulmonary diseases - Asthma, COPD
Neurological diseases - Infection, TIA, dementia etc
Endocrine disorders - Diabetes, hyperthyroidism
Other conditions - Anaphylaxis

Question 30

How is anxiety treated?

Answer 30

counselling, psychotherapy (CBT) and/or pharmacology

Question 31

What psychological techniques can be used in anxiety disorders?

Answer 31

Breathing retraining
Graded exposure
Problem solving
Thought stopping
Cognitive restructuring
Coping statements
Worry-time/worry place
Meditation
Deep muscle relaxations
Isometric relaxation

Question 32

What is graded exposure therapy?

Answer 32

Identify goals and break down into smaller =, manageable steps

Question 33

What is structured problem solving?

Answer 33

Structured Problem Solving is a learned skill that helps you to step back and evaluate your problems, big or small, in a clearer, more structured way.