| What is the difference between fear and anxiety | Fear is the emotional response to real or percieved threat
Anxiety is the anticipation of the future threat |
| What is the simplified version of the biochemistry on how anxiety is formed | Anxiety can be an imbalance between overactive bottom up activity from the amygdala indicating the presence of life-threatening stimuli and dysfunctional top-down control mechanisms originating in the prefrontal cortex resulting in a inappropriate representation of the emotional salience of stimuli |
| Definition of PTSD | Post traumatic stress disorder is relatively and develops of any age and develops following exposure to a major traumatic event
> 1 month and causes significant impairment in function |
| What are some symptoms of PTSD | Recurrent, involuntary memories of that event
Recurrent nightmares
Physiological distress at cue exposure
Avoidance of distressing memories
Avoidance of external reminders
Can lead to sleep difficulties , irritable behavior, problems with concentration, self destructive behavior etc |
| What are some other anxiety disorders | OCD
General Anxiety Disorder |
| What are some common features of anxiety disorders | Autonomic features → Body sensations
Cognitive → Feelings of fear or panic
Excessive avoidance → use of safety behaviors
Symptoms and avoidance causes clinically significant distress and impairment
Nausea
Increased heart rate/palpatitations
Trembling or shaking |
| What is general anxiety disorder | General Fear → bad things will happen
Bodily sensation → autonomic , musculoskeletal
Most of the time
> 6 months
Not due to a physical cause
Restlessness or feeling on edge , easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating , irritability and muscle tension are all common symptoms |
| What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses or images that are intrusive and unwanted that cause marked anxiety or distress
The person attempts to ignore or suppress such impulses with some other thought or action
Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession
The behaviors or acts are aimed at reducing distress or preventing some dreaded situation however these acts or behaviors are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to neutralize or prevent |
