Anxiety Disorders Part 1

Defense Mechanisms

The primary function is to protect ourselves from feeling inadequate or worthless. They are considered to help people cope successfully with mild and moderate levels of anxiety

Who uses Defense Mechanisms

Everyone uses defense mechanism and the often happen on an unconscious levels so we have little awareness and little control over what happens

Characteristics of defense Mechanisms

Sublimation

Channeling unacceptable impulses, thoughts, or emotions into more acceptable or socially constructive activities

Suppression

The voluntary inhibition of an impulse, idea, or affect

This person has full awareness of the behavior

Rationalization

Attempting to make a socially acceptable excuse or apparently logical explanation to justify unacceptable behavior, impulses, feelings, and motives

Intellectualization

The use of excessive reasoning or logic to avoid experiencing emotions that are unpleasant

Undoing

• Act or communication that partially negates a previous one

• Effort to undo damage and reduce guilt over some action in the past

Displacement

Shift of emotion from a person or object to another, usually neutral or less dangerous person or object

Repression

Involuntary exclusion of a painful or conflicted thought, impulse, or memory from awareness

Reaction Formation

Behaving in a way that is the opposites to one true feelings or impulses

Regression

Retreating to an earlier level of developmental stage, usually immature behavior to ventilate one’s behavior

Projection

Attributing one’s thoughts, feelings, or impulse to another person

Denial

Avoidance of disagreeable realities by ignore or refusing to acknowledge them

Sublimation example

Imagine a person, Alex, who has strong feelings of aggression and anger. Instead of expressing these feelings in harmful or destructive ways, Alex channels these emotions into sports. Alex takes up boxing as a way to release pent-up anger and aggression. Through boxing, Alex not only finds a constructive outlet for these emotions but also excels in the sport, winning tournaments and gaining recognition.

Suppression example

During her study sessions, whenever thoughts of the breakup or her emotions surface, Sarah consciously tells herself that she will deal with these emotions after her exams are over. She acknowledges the feelings but chooses not to dwell on them at the moment, allowing herself to focus on her studies.

Rationalization example

Mark: "Well, smoking helps me relax, and life is so stressful these days. Everyone has their way of coping with stress, right? Some people overeat or drink too much coffee. Smoking is my way of dealing with stress. Besides, my grandfather smoked his whole life and lived until he was 90. Genetics play a significant role in health, you know.

intellectualization Example

Emily is a young woman who has just been diagnosed with a serious medical condition. Instead of allowing herself to feel the fear and sadness that naturally arise with such a diagnosis

Emily: "I understand that this illness is a result of specific biological processes going haywire in my body. I have been reading extensively about the condition, the various treatment options, success rates, and the experiences of other patients. It's fascinating how medical science has advanced in this field. I am considering different treatments and weighing the pros and cons logically. By understanding the scientific aspects, I can make informed decisions about my treatment."

Undoing example

A man who has been unkind to his wife buys her flowers (but does not apologize).

Displacement example

Imagine a man named Mike who had a stressful day at work. His boss criticized him harshly, leaving him feeling angry and frustrated. However, Mike knows that expressing his anger directly to his boss could jeopardize his job. When he returns home, he kicks a chair in his living room, startling his family. Later that evening, he snaps at his wife over a minor issue, raising his voice and being uncharacteristically harsh.

Repression example

Consider a woman named Sarah who was involved in a car accident as a child. The accident was traumatic, and she witnessed some disturbing scenes. In the years following the accident, Sarah has no conscious memory of the event. She doesn’t recall the details of the accident, the emotions she experienced at that time, or even the people involved.

Years later, when Sarah starts therapy for unexplained anxiety attacks, the therapist helps her explore her past. During the therapy sessions, Sarah begins to have vivid, distressing dreams about car crashes and experiences intense anxiety without any apparent trigger. Through therapy,

Reaction Formation example

Imagine a person named Alex who has strong feelings of dislike and resentment towards their sibling, Sam. These feelings might stem from jealousy or past conflicts. However, Alex is aware that society expects siblings to get along and be loving and supportive of each other.

Instead of acknowledging their true feelings of resentment, Alex displays exaggerated friendliness and affection towards Sam. Alex goes out of their way to help Sam, praises Sam openly, and talks about how much they admire and love their sibling, even to the point of excessive flat

Regression example

Meet Sarah, a teenager who has recently experienced the divorce of her parents. The divorce has caused significant upheaval and emotional distress in her life. In response to the stress and emotional turmoil, Sarah starts displaying regressive behavior.

She begins to suck her thumb, a habit she had overcome in early childhood. She starts carrying around a favorite childhood toy and insists on being tucked in at night, a routine she abandoned years ago. Additionally, she seeks constant reassurance from her parents, acting more like a young child than a teenager.

Projection Example

Let's consider a person named Sarah who has a strong desire to gossip about her colleagues at work. Sarah often spreads rumors and engages in negative talk about others. However, she is unwilling to admit to herself that she is engaging in harmful behavior.

Instead, Sarah accuses her coworker, Mike, of being a gossip and claims that he is the source of all the workplace rumors. She frequently tells others, "Mike is always talking behind people's backs. I can't trust him; he's the one spreading all these rumors."

Denial Example

Consider a person named Alice who has been experiencing frequent, intense chest pains and shortness of breath. These symptoms are classic signs of a heart problem, but Alice is terrified of hospitals and doctors. Despite her worsening symptoms, she convinces herself that it's just stress or indigestion.

Alice's friends and family express concern and urge her to see a doctor, but she adamantly refuses. She dismisses their concerns, saying, "I'm just under a lot of stress lately. It's nothing serious; I just need some rest."

Anxiety

One of the most common human emotions

• Associated with uncertainty, helplessness, isolation, dread, and.or insecurity

Mild Moderate

• Something is different and warrants special attentions

• Associated with tension of the day to day living

• The person is more alert and perceptual field increases

• Almost no physiologically changes

• Individual is able to function at optimal level

• Learning is enhanced and can motivate learning and problem solving

• They may feel restlessness and irritability

Moderate Anxiety

• Disturbing feeling that is something is definitely wrong

• Focus is on the immediate concerns, sees, hears, gasps less

• The attention span and ability to concentrate decreased

• Pt may still attend to needs and problem solving with direction

• Learning can still occur but not at optimal ability

• Still processes information with help

• Muscular tension and restlessness increases

• Heart rate, Respiration Rate and sweating increases

Severe anxiety

• Perceptual field is greatly diminished

• Concentration centers on one particular detail and does not think about anything else

• All overt behavior is aimed at relieving the anxiety

• Has trouble completing the simplest of tasks

• Much directed is needed to focus on another area

Physical Symptoms

• ANS is triggered

• Fight or flight response is triggered

• Headaches

• Palpatations

• Insomnia

• Confusion

• Dread

Panic Anxiety

• Associated with dread, terror, and disorganization of personality

• Total loss of control, helplessness, dissociation often displayed

• Distorted perceptions; loss of rational thought

• Decreased ability to relate to others

• Combative, terrified, withdrawn, extremely active or inactive

• Unable to do things even with direction

• Inability to communication or function effectively

• May experience hallucinations and/or delusions

• Pupils dilated, SOB, patient is pale, muscle pain, labored Breathing

Factors that can worsen anxiety symptoms

• Stress

• Lack of Sleep

• Caffeine and Stimulants

• Alcohol and Substance Use

• Health Conditions

• Traumatic Events

• Genetics

• Personality Factors

• Life Changes

• Social Isolation

• Hormonal Changes

Factors that can cause anxiety

• Genetic factors

• Brain Chemistry

• Personality and Temperament

• Trauma and Stressful life Experiences

• Medications

• Environment

• Personality disorders