Lesson 3 - Anxiety Disorder Pt.1

What is anxiety?

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines anxiety as an, 

“An emotion characterized by physical changes such as tension, anxious thoughts and increased blood pressure.”

What are some generalized anxiety symptoms?

• Problems concentrating or making decisions.

• Feeling angry, stressed or nervous

• Experiencing nausea or abdominal pain

• Increased heart rate

• Sweating, trembling or shaking

• Difficulty sleepy 

• Having a sense of impending danger, fear or doom

How long should excessive anxiety and worry occur for it to be diagnosed as GAD?

At least 6 months.

What are the criteria for diagnosing Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

• The individual finds it difficult to control the worry.

• Anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following symptoms.

1. Restlessness or feeling keyed up or edge

2. Being easily fatigued

3. Difficulty concentration or mind going blank

4. Irritability

5. Muscle tension

6. Sleep disturbance

What are the symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

GAD can cause both mental and physical symptoms.

• Feeling nervous or anxious

• Difficulty concentrating or sleeping

• Dizziness

• Increased heart rate

Who are affected by GAD?

More women are affected than men.

It is more common in people aged 35 to 55 years.

What causes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

Having a history of stressful or traumatic experiences.

No apparent reason.

How to treat generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

Talk therapy

Medications

What is specific phobia?

It is an irrational long-term and extreme fear of a specific object, occasion or activity.

The person with phobia fails to present a definite cause for the phobia and they also know that their fear is imaginary and unnecessary but they fail to get rid of it. 

What are the four levels of phobia?

1. Mild Level - A common and straightforward condition that typically does not require long-term medication. It can be effectively managed through psychotherapy and counselling.

2. Moderate Level - Requires medication alongside psychotherapy for effective treatment.

3. Severe Level - Requires medication alongside psychotherapy for effective treatment.

4. Chronic Level - Deeply rooted in the unconscious, it emerges unpredictably. Effective treatment requires a combination of medication and psychotherapy.

What is the criteria for Diagnosing Specific Phobia?

1. Strong Fear or Anxiety – The person experiences intense fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation.

2. Immediate Reaction – Coming into contact with the feared object or situation almost always triggers an immediate fear or anxiety response.

3. Avoidance or Endurance with Fear – The person either actively avoids the object or situation or faces it with extreme distress.

4. Disproportionate Fear – The level of fear or anxiety is much greater than the actual danger posed by the object or situation, considering cultural and social factors.

5. Long-Lasting Symptoms – The fear, anxiety, or avoidance persists for at least six months or more.

6. Impact on Daily Life – The fear causes significant problems in important areas of life, such as work, school, or social relationships.

7. Not Due to Another Disorder – The symptoms are not better explained by another mental health condition.

What are the reasons for specific phobia?

Genetics

Experiences

How to treat people with specific phobia?

• Psychoeducation

• Pharmaceuticals

• Psychotherapy - talking therapy (cognitive behavior therapy)

• Exposure therapy

• Relaxation techniques

• Self-help techniques

What is Social Anxiety Disorder / Social Phobia?

Suffering from the anxious nature, discomfort, or fear of facing such situations when presenting or acting socially.

What are the types of social anxiety disorders?

Specific Social Phobia

Generalized Social Phobia

What is specific social phobia?

When a person with social phobia experiences fear related to a specific social situation or activity.

What is generalized social phobia?

When nearly every social activity causes anxiety and leads to avoidance.

What does generalized social anxiety lead to?

Severe social isolation. They will have poor social skills, struggle to build and maintain relationships, work in social environments, and express emotions or warmth effectively.

What is the criteria for diagnosing social phobia?

1. Fear of being observed

2. Fear of Negative Judgment

3. Consistent Anxiety in Social Situations

4. Avoidance or Endurance with Distress

5. Disproportionate Fear

6. Persistent Condition

7. Significant Life Impact

8. Not Due to Substances

9. Not Explained by Another Disorder

10. Unrelated or Excessive in Medical Conditions

What are the causes of Social Phobia?

1. Inherited traits

2. Brain structure

3. Environment

How to treat people with Social Phobia?

• Psychoeducation

• Pharmaceuticals

• Psychotherapy - talking therapy (cognitive behavior therapy)

• Exposure therapy

• Relaxation techniques

What is separation anxiety disorder?

Separation Anxiety Disorder is an excessive fear or anxiety about being apart from attachment figures, such as parents or caregivers, that is developmentally inappropriate.

When is the fear, anxiety or avoidance considered persistent in separation anxiety disorder?

At least 4 weeks in children and adolescents and typically 6 months or more in adults.

What are the causes of Separation Anxiety Disorder?

• Genetic

• Biological

• Environmental

How to treat separation anxiety?

1. Drug Treatment

2. Psychotherapy

3. Family Counselling

4. Relaxing exercise

What is Panic Disorder?

Panic Disorder is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort that peak within minutes.

What is the main symptom of Panic Disorder?

Panic Attacks. A panic attack is not a panic disorder but there should be panic attacks to diagnose a panic disorder.

How long do the panic attacks need to last with persistent concern or worry about additional panic attack or their consequences or/ and a significant maladaptive change in behaviour related to the attacks?

1 month (or more)

What are the causes of panic disorder?

• A traumatic or very stressful life experience, such as a bereavement 

• Having a close family member with panic disorder 

• An imbalance of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain

How to treat people with panic disorder?

• Psychoeducation

• Pharmaceuticals

• Psychotherapy - talking therapy CBT

• Relaxation techniques

• Self-help techniques

What are the two types of breathing techniques used to calm down?

• Deep breathing

• Box breathing