ANXIETY DISORDERS

GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER Definition: An anxiety disorder characterized by chronic anxiety, exaggerated worry, and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it. Signs and Symptoms: 1. can’t seem to shake their concerns. 2. Physical symptoms—fatigue, headaches, muscle tension/aches, difficulty swallowing, trembling, twitching, irritability, sweating, and hot flashes.

GAD When is it diagnosed? 1. When person worries excessively about a variety of everyday problems for at least 6 months. 2. When its mild, they can function socially and hold down a job but if anxiety is severe they may have trouble carrying out the simplest daily activities 3. Affects 6.8 million American adults— including 2x as many women as men.

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER Definition: an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Signs and Symptoms: 1. May be plagued by persistent, unwelcome thoughts or images, or by the urgent need to engage in certain rituals. 2. These obsessions are upsetting thoughts and they use rituals known as compulsions to control the anxiety these thoughts produce.

OBSESSIONS AND COMPULSIONS OBSESSIONSCOMPULSIONS Germs/dirt Intruders neatness Difficulty throwing things out Washing hands Lock/relock/checkers Order/symmetry hoarding

OCD OCD affects 2.5% of Americans at some point during their lives. The problem can be accompanied by eating disorders, other anxiety disorders, or depression. Strikes men and women equally. Symptoms may come and go, ease over time, or get worse. If it gets severe—can keep person from working or doing daily activities

TREATMENTS FOR OCD Certain Medications (often ones that treat depression) Exposure-based Psychotherapy New approaches—brain stimulation

PANIC DISORDER Definition: Anxiety disorder that is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.

PANIC DISORDER Signs and Symptoms: 1. May have feelings of terror that strike suddenly and repeatedly with no warning. Most likely your heart will pound and you may feel sweaty, weak, faint, or dizzy. Hands may tingle or feel numb and you might feel flushed or chilled. Possible nausea, chest pain, smothering sensations, sense of unreality, or fear of pending doom or loss of control.

PANIC DISORDER Panic attacks can occur at any time, even during sleep. They usually peak within 10 minutes, but some symptoms last much longer. It affects about 6 million Americans Can experience “anticipatory anxiety” Dread of possible attack can lead to Agorophobia-fear of public places and open spaces.

POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER Definition: anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Events that might trigger PTSD—violent personal assaults, natural or human- caused disasters, accidents, or military combat.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS RE-EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS AVOIDANCE SYMPTOMS Flashbacks Bad Dreams Frightening Thoughts HYPERAROUSAL SYMPTOMS -being easily startled Tense or on-edge Difficulty sleeping/angry outburst Staying away from places, events, or objects that remind you of experience Feeling emotionally numb Feeling strong guilt, depression or worry Losing interest in activities that were enjoyable in past. Having trouble remembering the dangerous event.

PHOBIAS Definition: group of anxiety disorders involving a pathological fear of a specific object or situation Social Phobia: overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. --it can be limited to only one type of situation (ex. Public speaking) or can be broad.

Signs and Symptoms of Social Phobia *Persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being watched and or judged by others and being embarrassed or humiliated by their own actions. *Fear may be so severe that it interferes with work or school and other ordinary activities. Physical symptoms: blushing, profuse sweating, trembling, nausea, and difficulty talking.

Social Phobia Affects 15 million American adults Women and men are equally likely to develop disorder. Possible genetic factors Often accompanied by other anxiety disorders and depression. Substance abuse often developed-self meds. Treatment: psychotherapy, meds, group therapy