Anxiety Disorders a group of conditions where the primary symptoms are anxiety or defenses against anxiety. the patient fears something awful will happen to them. Are anxiety disorders a neurosis or psychosis.?

What is anxiety? is a state of intense apprehension, uneasiness, uncertainty, or fear.

Anxiety Disorders categorize a large number of disorders where the primary feature is abnormal or inappropriate anxiety Everybody has experienced anxiety the last time a loud noise frightened you and remember the feelings inside your body. –you experienced an increased heart rate, tensed muscles, and perhaps an acute sense of focus as you tried to determine the source of the noise. –These are all symptoms of anxiety

These symptoms become a problem when they occur without any recognizable stimulus or when the stimulus does not warrant such a reaction. Inappropriate anxiety is when a person's heart races, breathing increases, and muscles tense without any reason for them to do so. Once a medical cause is ruled out, an anxiety disorder may be the culprit

Explanations for Anxiety Disorders You Learn them through conditioning. Evolution Genes Physiology (the brain)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder An anxiety disorder in which a person is continuously tense, apprehensive and in a state of autonomic nervous system arousal. The patient is constantly tense and worried, feels inadequate, is oversensitive, can’t concentrate and suffers from insomnia.

Panic Disorder An anxiety disorder marked by a minutes-long episode of intense dread in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking and other frightening sensations. Can cause secondary disorders, such as agoraphobia.

Panic Attacks Facts –At least 20% of adult Americans have had some –Most first panic attacks happen during the ages of –May lead to phobias

Panic Attacks Defined as –Racing or pounding heart (palpitations) –Chest pains –Stomach ache –Dizziness –Difficulty breathing –Hot flashes or chills –Trembling of shaking –Terror –A need to escape

Panic Attacks

Phobias A person experiences sudden episodes of intense dread.

The Phobia List Link

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder An anxiety disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and/or actions (compulsions).

Common Examples of OCD Common Obsessions: Common Compulsions: Contamination fears of germs, dirt, etc. Washing Imagining having harmed self or others Repeating Imagining losing control of aggressive urges Checking Intrusive sexual thoughts or urgesTouching Excessive religious or moral doubtCounting Forbidden thoughtsOrdering/arranging A need to have things "just so"Hoarding or saving A need to tell, ask, confessPraying

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Anxiety disorder that happens from a traumatic event

PTSD symptoms Reliving –Flashbacks –Repeated nightmares Avoidance –Emotional numbing –Feeling detached –Lack of interest in normal activities –Feelings of having no future Arousal –Difficulty concentrating –Starling easily –Irritable –Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Hippocampus and PTSD H has inhibitory effect on release of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) CRF critical in stress response, mediating HPA axis activation, mediating fear behavior/chronic stress Leads to chronic CRF release Research notes elevated CRF in CSF of persons with PTSD Bremner, 2002