112 Stress & Coping Anxiety Disorders

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

Provides criteria for diagnosing mental health disorders

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) examples

Fluoxetine

Citalopram

Escitalopram

Sertraline

Paroxetine

Buspirone (Buspar)

Antianxiety medication prescribed as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Panic attack symptoms

Palpitations, chest pain, diaphoresis, muscle tension, GI upset, hyperventilation, breathing difficulties, nausea, feelings of choking, chills, shaking, feelings of losing control, fear of dying

Panic attack RN interventions

Stay with client​

Provide reassurance​

Be a calm presence​

Give clear and concise instructions​

Create a low-stimulus environment​

Ambulation​

Administer anxiolytic

Maturational crisis

A normal state in growth and development in which specific maturational tasks must be learned but old coping mechanisms are no longer adequate or acceptable.

Situational crisis

An (often) unexpected life event such as a job change, motor vehicle crash, death, or severe illness threatens a person's equilibrium.

Social (adventitious) crisis

An unexpected and unusual social or environmental catastrophe that affects many people at once.

Specific phobia

A severe and persistent fear of a specific object or situation.

Exposure therapy

Behavioral techniques, such as systematic desensitization, that treat anxieties by exposing people (in imagination or actuality) to the things they fear.

Stress

A state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation.

Anxiety

A persistent response to stress that occurs even when there is no real threat or danger.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Persistent and excessive worry that is difficult to control

Agoraphobia

An irrational fear of particular places and situations where it may be difficult to escape.

Social anxiety disorder

Intense anxiety or fear of being judged, criticized, or rejected in a social or performance situation.

Separation anxiety disorder

A disorder marked by excessive anxiety, even panic, whenever the person is separated from home, a parent, or another attachment figure.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Teaches coping strategies and ways to manage anxiety-provoking situations. Helps the client replace negative thoughts that exacerbate anxiety with positive ones that build confidence.