Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders are conditions characterized by high levels of anxiety and a maladaptive reaction to anxiety's influence. Anxiety is an unpleasurable affect with both physiological and psychological symptoms. The physiological symptoms include rapid shallow breathing, increased heart rate, muscle tension, sweating, and trembling. Psychological and emotional symptoms include feelings of dread, impending doom, powerlessness, hypervigilance or alarm, apprehensive self-absorption, and a sense of doubt, vagueness or subjectivity about the nature of the threat.

Below the various Anxiety Disorders are listed. They are often seen in combination.

• Panic Attack. The sudden onset of intense fear, terror, apprehension and a sense of impending doom lasting from several minutes to several hours. Both the physiological and psychological symptoms of anxiety are experienced to a marked degree.
• Agoraphobia. Anxiety and/or avoidance related to going places where one would feel vulnerable in the face of a panic attack or anxiety symptoms.
• Specific Phobia. A high degree of anxiety related to exposure to a specific stimulus. The anxiety is continual, exaggerated and often leads to avoidance.
• Social Phobia. A high degree of anxiety related to exposure to social situations. The anxiety is continual, exaggerated and often leads to avoidance.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder consists of unwanted, persistent and intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and /or repetitive, ritualistic behaviors(compulsions). Common obsessions include persistent thoughts about contamination and germs, accident or injury, and doubts over unlocked doors or gas stoves left on. common compulsions include hand washing, checking locked doors, and excessive ordering.
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is characterized by reexperiencing the anxiety associated with a previously traumatic event and the avoidance of stimuli associated with the event. The original event is, or is perceived to be life threatening.
• Acute Stress Disorder is characterized by high levels experienced immediately after an extremely traumatic occurrence.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by at least six months of persistent and excessive anxiety and worry.
• Anxiety Disorder Due to a General Medical Condition is characterized by  prominent symptoms of anxiety that are judged to be a direct physiological consequence of a general medical condition.
• Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder is characterized by prominent symptoms of anxiety that are judged to be a direct result of a drug of abuse, a medication or toxin exposure.

Anxiety Disorders Articles

Planet Psych Links:

Questions About Panic Disorders; American Psychological Association

Overcoming Panic Attacks

Overcoming Panic Attacks; Dr. Michael Edelstein

What is Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder?; Dr. Daniel Pearson

Coping after a Trauma; Dr. Debra Moore

Traumatic Events Have Long-Term Impact on Children

Comprehensive List of Phobias

World Wide Web Links:

The National Institute of Mental Health; Anxiety Disorders.

 

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