anxiety disorders

Panic disorder -

an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent panic attacks in which the person suddenly experiences intense fear or terror without any reasonable cause. - feelings of impending doom, chest pain, dizziness or fainting, sweating, difficulty breathing, and fear of losing control or dying. - last only a few minutes -wide open spaces can be environmental triggers - some cases have been correlated with having guilt from something that happened prior in a person's life - can lead to the development of agoraphobia because people will avoid going out for fear of having a panic attack

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

- an anxiety disorder characterized by prolonged vague but intense fears that are not attached to any particular object or circumstance. A neurotic. Definition: Neurotic - a person who has a mild mental illness that is not caused by organic disease, involving symptoms of stress

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders - Disorders in which anxiety is a characteristic feature or the avoidance of anxiety seems to motivate abnormal behavior. -the avoidance of the fear may cause the person more trouble than the actual fear. -the person's fear or anxiety doesn't seem to make sense. ex. a person may be afraid to ride elevators or be afraid of small dogs. There may be a reason for the fear but on the surface, it does not seem to make sense. - anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental disorder

Specific Phobia

Specific Phobia - anxiety disorder characterized by an intense, paralyzing fear of something. -it might be something that should be feared but the fear is excessive and unreasonable. Ex. a student runs out of the classroom screaming because she sees a small spider near her foot. -the fear is so great that it interferes with life functioning due to the avoidance of routine or adaptive activities. -10% of people in the United States suffer from some sort of phobia.

Obsessive - Compulsive Disorder (OCD) -

an anxiety disorder in which a person feels driven to think disturbing thoughts or to perform senseless rituals. Obsessions - involuntary thoughts or ideas that keep recurring despite the person's attempts to stop them. Compulsions - repetitive, ritualistic behaviors that a person feels compelled to perform. -without performing the compulsions the person will experience great anxiety.

Agoraphobia

an anxiety disorder that involves multiple, intense fears of crowds, public places, and other situations that require separation from a source of security such as the home.- person has a perceived radius from which they can safely be from the home. Once the radius is exceeded the person has great anxiety -most commonly caused by panic attacks - sometimes develops in those recently released from prison or those with a debilitating long term illness -fear involves a separation from a sense of security or a loved one. -much more debilitating than a social phobia because it is more all encompassing (definition: debilitating - tending to weaken something or someone) -3% of the population suffers from agoraphobia and because it can be so debilitating many of these people seek treatment.

social Anxiety Disorder

social Anxiety Disorder - anxiety disorders characterized by excessive, inappropriate fears connected with social situations or performances in front of other people. Ex. public speaking, eating in restaurants, using a public restroom etc...

2 Most Common types of Obsessions and Compulsions

washing and cleaning - obsession - the thought that their bodies aren't clean and germs are going to infect them compulsion - constant washing of the hands 2. repeated checking - obsession - thoughts that the house is not secure or lights or appliances have been left on. compulsion - constant checking of locks, lights, oven etc. could also involve a ritual that has to be performed before one can leave the house. -compulsions can involve repetitive behaviors such as ordering and mental acts. Ex praying, counting, and repeating words silently. Can be repeated internal thoughts.