2- What Is Anxiety Really? What Is Anxiety really? Stress, Anxiety, and Worry 2/30 (Therapy in a Nutshell)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db3K8b3ftaY&list=PLiUrrIiqidTVqab7pZivzb-e-tMA8qjd-&index=3

Correct answer: B. Because precise description increases the ability to change one’s relationship with it

Explanation: The material emphasizes that the more precisely a problem or emotion is described, the greater the ability to do something about it.

Why is it important to precisely describe anxiety?

A. Because anxiety is always harmful
B. Because precise description increases the ability to change one’s relationship with it
C. Because anxiety only exists in thoughts
D. Because anxiety can be eliminated completely

Correct answer: C. A reaction to the perception of danger

Explanation: Anxiety is defined as a reaction to the perception of danger, particularly physical danger.

Anxiety is best described as:

A. A cognitive disorder caused by faulty thinking
B. A physical illness of the nervous system
C. A reaction to the perception of danger
D. A learned behavior with no biological basis

Correct answer: B. Limbic system

Explanation: The limbic system is responsible for triggering the anxiety response when danger is perceived.

Which system of the brain is primarily triggered when danger is perceived?

A. Prefrontal cortex
B. Limbic system
C. Cerebellum
D. Visual cortex

Correct answer: C. To keep us safe from danger

Explanation: Anxiety serves a protective function by motivating behaviors that help keep us safe.

What is the primary function of anxiety as an emotion?

A. To cause discomfort
B. To suppress emotions
C. To keep us safe from danger
D. To eliminate fear

Correct answer: C. To make them powerful motivating forces

Explanation: Emotions involve bodily sensations so they can strongly motivate action.

Why do emotions like anxiety include physical sensations?

A. To confuse the individual
B. To make emotions more noticeable
C. To make them powerful motivating forces
D. To prevent logical thinking

Correct answer: B. The physiological reaction to threat

Explanation: Stress is described as the body’s physiological response to perceived threats.

Which of the following best describes stress?

A. The emotional experience of fear
B. The physiological reaction to threat
C. Repetitive thinking about the future
D. Conscious decision-making

Correct answer: C. Rapid and instinctual activation

Explanation: The response is fast, automatic, and occurs before conscious thought.

The fight/flight/freeze response is characterized by which feature?

A. Slow and deliberate processing
B. Conscious decision-making
C. Rapid and instinctual activation
D. Long-term planning

Correct answer: B. Because short-term stress resolves naturally

Explanation: Short-term stress and anxiety do not harm the body and naturally resolve.

Why is stress not always harmful?

A. Because it never affects the body
B. Because short-term stress resolves naturally
C. Because stress only exists mentally
D. Because stress improves digestion

Correct answer: C. Improved immune functioning

Explanation: Chronic stress weakens health rather than improving immune function.

Chronic stress can contribute to all EXCEPT:

A. Heart disease
B. High blood pressure
C. Improved immune functioning
D. Frequent illnesses

Correct answer: C. The thinking component of anxiety

Explanation: Worry involves thoughts, often about future or unknown events.

Worry is best defined as:

A. A bodily reaction to danger
B. The emotional experience of fear
C. The thinking component of anxiety
D. A reflexive response

Correct answer: C. Prefrontal cortex

Explanation: Worry originates in the prefrontal cortex, the thinking part of the brain.

Worry is rooted primarily in which part of the brain?

A. Limbic system
B. Brainstem
C. Prefrontal cortex
D. Occipital lobe

Correct answer: C. When it becomes compulsive and constant

Explanation: Excessive and uncontrollable worry can fuel anxiety and depressive disorders.

When does worry become problematic?

A. When it helps problem-solving
B. When it is future-oriented
C. When it becomes compulsive and constant
D. When it involves emotions

Correct answer: B. Stress and worry

Explanation: Anxiety emerges from both physiological stress and cognitive worry.

Anxiety is described as the intersection of:

A. Fear and depression
B. Stress and worry
C. Emotion and behavior
D. Thoughts and memory

Correct answer: C. Fear is about immediate threat; anxiety is about future or vague threat

Explanation: Fear involves immediate danger, while anxiety involves anticipated or uncertain threats.

How does anxiety differ from fear?

A. Fear is future-oriented; anxiety is immediate
B. Fear is imagined; anxiety is real
C. Fear is about immediate threat; anxiety is about future or vague threat
D. There is no difference

Correct answer: C. A danger imagined by the brain when one is actually safe

Explanation: Perceived danger occurs when anxiety arises despite the absence of real threat.

What is meant by “perceived danger”?

A. A danger that is physically present
B. A danger that has already occurred
C. A danger imagined by the brain when one is actually safe
D. A danger that cannot be avoided

Correct answer: D. Sensitive but often inaccurate

Explanation: Like a smoke alarm, anxiety is designed to detect danger early, even at the cost of false alarms.

The smoke alarm metaphor illustrates that anxiety is:

A. Always accurate
B. Designed to be insensitive
C. Rarely triggered
D. Sensitive but often inaccurate

Correct answer: C. Awareness

Explanation: Awareness involves noticing and describing anxiety in the body and thoughts.

What is the first step in emotion management according to the material?

A. Avoidance
B. Suppression
C. Awareness
D. Distraction

Correct answer: C. Describing anxiety experiences clearly

Explanation: Clear description increases understanding and control over anxiety.

Which practice helps improve control over anxiety?

A. Judging anxiety as bad
B. Ignoring bodily sensations
C. Describing anxiety experiences clearly
D. Avoiding anxious situations

Correct answer: B. Letting go of judgment

Explanation: Judging anxiety harms the relationship with it; description without judgment is encouraged.

What is the second major step in changing one’s relationship with anxiety?

A. Eliminating anxiety
B. Letting go of judgment
C. Increasing avoidance
D. Challenging all thoughts

Correct answer: C. Judgment harms emotional regulation

Explanation: Judgment worsens the relationship with anxiety, while descriptive language supports regulation.

Why should anxiety be described rather than judged?

A. Judgment increases awareness
B. Description strengthens avoidance
C. Judgment harms emotional regulation
D. Description eliminates anxiety

Correct answer: C. To notice changes in anxiety levels through experience

Explanation: Rating anxiety before and after helps increase awareness of how anxiety can change even without real danger.

Why were participants asked to rate their anxiety on a 0–10 scale before and after the video?

A. To diagnose an anxiety disorder
B. To compare their anxiety with others
C. To notice changes in anxiety levels through experience
D. To eliminate anxiety completely

Correct answer: C. To help viewers observe their anxiety response

Explanation: The exercise encouraged noticing thoughts, sensations, and emotions associated with anxiety.

What was the purpose of intentionally showing a video designed to evoke anxiety?

A. To desensitize viewers permanently
B. To test emotional endurance
C. To help viewers observe their anxiety response
D. To prove anxiety is dangerous

Correct answer: D. Improved digestion

Explanation: Stress responses shut down digestion rather than improving it.

Which of the following was NOT listed as a possible physical response to perceived danger?

A. Increased heart rate
B. Sweaty hands
C. Covering the eyes
D. Improved digestion

Correct answer: B. Stomach, hands, shoulders, face, or head

Explanation: The material encouraged noticing specific bodily locations of anxiety.

Which bodily sensations were suggested as common places where anxiety may show up?

A. Only in the chest
B. Stomach, hands, shoulders, face, or head
C. Only in thoughts
D. Only in breathing

Correct answer: C. Turning away or covering the eyes

Explanation: These behaviors occur instinctively during the stress response.

Which behavior was described as a possible automatic response to stress?

A. Logical reasoning
B. Long-term planning
C. Turning away or covering the eyes
D. Writing thoughts down

Correct answer: C. Stress is always bad for you

Explanation: Short-term stress is not harmful; chronic stress is the concern.

What common myth about stress was addressed in the material?

A. Stress is always helpful
B. Stress is entirely psychological
C. Stress is always bad for you
D. Stress cannot be treated

Correct answer: C. Because without skills it can lead to avoidance or procrastination

Explanation: Anxiety can motivate preparation or, if unmanaged, lead to avoidance.

Why does anxiety about an upcoming test sometimes become unhelpful?

A. Because anxiety is always inaccurate
B. Because it eliminates motivation
C. Because without skills it can lead to avoidance or procrastination
D. Because it stops memory formation

Correct answer: B. Creates a constant perception of danger

Explanation: Chronic worry in GAD maintains a persistent sense of danger.

In Generalized Anxiety Disorder, worry primarily does what?

A. Eliminates emotional responses
B. Creates a constant perception of danger
C. Improves emotional regulation
D. Occurs only during real threats

Correct answer: C. Perceived danger while being safe

Explanation: Flashbacks create the sensation of danger despite present safety.

PTSD flashbacks illustrate which anxiety concept?

A. Actual danger
B. Stress resilience
C. Perceived danger while being safe
D. Cognitive flexibility

Correct answer: B. Cognitive skills targeting thinking patterns

Explanation: Worry is addressed through cognitive interventions.

Which approach is recommended for addressing worry in anxiety?

A. Physical relaxation only
B. Cognitive skills targeting thinking patterns
C. Avoidance of uncertainty
D. Suppression of thoughts

Correct answer: C. Calming the body

Explanation: Stress is physiological and responds to somatic calming strategies.

Which intervention best targets the stress component of anxiety?

A. Logical debate
B. Memory recall
C. Calming the body
D. Increasing vigilance

Correct answer: C. A body map in a workbook

Explanation: Writing or drawing where anxiety appears increases awareness.

What tool was suggested to help map how anxiety shows up in the body?

A. Timed exposure
B. Medication tracking
C. A body map in a workbook
D. Thought suppression

Correct answer: C. It improves clarity and control

Explanation: Clear description improves regulation and control over anxiety.

Why is writing or describing anxiety experiences helpful?

A. It distracts from anxiety
B. It increases anxiety intensity
C. It improves clarity and control
D. It eliminates emotions

Correct answer: C. As a part trying to keep you alive

Explanation: Viewing anxiety as protective helps foster acceptance.

How is anxiety personified in the material to reduce judgment?

A. As an enemy to defeat
B. As a disease to cure
C. As a part trying to keep you alive
D. As a weakness

Correct answer: C. “This is uncomfortable and loud”

Explanation: Descriptive, non-judgmental language is recommended.

Which language is encouraged when relating to anxiety?

A. “This is awful”
B. “This must stop now”
C. “This is uncomfortable and loud”
D. “This is dangerous”

Correct answer: C. To change one’s relationship with anxiety

Explanation: The course emphasizes changing the relationship with anxiety rather than eliminating it.

What is the ultimate goal of increasing awareness and reducing judgment of anxiety?

A. To remove anxiety permanently
B. To improve emotional avoidance
C. To change one’s relationship with anxiety
D. To heighten vigilance