Alice Park’s article in TIME Magazine, entitled “The Two Faces of Anxiety”, outlines the key positive and negative effects anxiety can have on both the individual and humanity as a whole. Because of the steady increase in diagnoses of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and similar mental illnesses, evaluating the origins of anxiety as well as its effects are crucial steps for developing both medical treatments and alternative methods of coping with the disorder. While many of the 40 million American adults suffering from anxiety believe that eliminating the feeling altogether is ideal, they fail to consider what psychologists have mounds of empirical evidence in support of: anxiety is not inherently adverse, and can, in many cases, be advantageous. Anxiety is generally understood to be a biological process in which specific symptoms, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, manifest as a response to stressful scenarios. In these potentially-fatal situations, the fight-or-flight response is an evolutionary reaction developed to prevent species from engaging in behavior that could result in extreme negative consequences, while also preparing them for possible conflict. Overall, this response is a constructive adaptation, but an issue arises when individuals face stressful, albeit non-fatal, situations. The body still experiences the same symptoms despite the absence of any “real” danger, and the person suffering from the anxiety feels as though he or she has little control over the behaviors brought on by the condition. Triggered by both genetic and environmental factors, there appears to be a wide variation in the severity of anxiety as well as what treatment methods are effective for each individual. However, many psychologists ...
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... anxiety and it is not a negatively-adapted trait, but rather an instinct that can sometimes seem primitive in such an advanced culture. Reading this article did not provide me with any new approaches to dealing with my anxiety, but the statistic about the disorder’s prevalence on page 56 helped me to feel less alone. Before reading Park’s article, I had never really considered the possibility that anxiety could have positive results or an evolutionary basis intended to improve the chances of survival. For those with anxiety looking for alternative methods of alleviating those feelings or a deeper understanding of the sources of their anxiety, this article may prove a valuable read. People who do not have anxiety themselves could also benefit from reading this article, as it provides an accurate snapshot of the struggles a person suffering from anxiety experiences.
Adrenaline and glucocorticoids are critical to survival. Animals’ stress responses turn off after escaping from life-threatening situations. However, humans’ stress response come from a psychological state of fear or threat. We are often stressed out due to traffic, increasing taxes, instead of actual life-or-death situations. What’s worse, we are stressed constantly. Since we cannot
In a society where watching horror movies is considered a social norm, it is less than surprising that the horror industry makes approximately 500 million dollars with the haunted attractions and 400 million dollars at the box office each year, according to Sonya Chudgar’s article “Blood Money: How the Horror Industry Makes a Killing.” Stephen King, a best-selling writer, screenwriter, columnist, producer and director, who is also well-known as a writer of horror fiction, describes the role that horror movies play in the world. He refers to this role as a “dirty job” (King), and suggests that the job is favorable in that horror movies expose us to malevolence and immorality or tense situations in order to suppress our primal instincts of demanding
...s: the nature and treatment of anxiety and panic (2. ed.). New York, NY [u.a.: Guilford Press.
According to Sharp (2012), “anxiety disorders are the most widespread causes of distress among individuals seeking treatment from mental health services in the United States” (p359).
“Anxiety disorders are characterized by frequent fearful thoughts about what might happen in the future”(Wood, Wood, & Boyd, 2014). These sicknesses dramatically alter patients lives in a negative way, not only does if affect the people who suffer from one of these disorders but it also affects their social surroundings and loved ones. There are many psychological disorders, which is why it could be compared to a kingdom of biology because they extend and connect to so many other illness, some of these anxiety disorders would include: panic attacks, specific phobias, obsessive-disorder, major depression, bi polar disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder.
The overall history of psychology is a short one in comparison to the other fields of medicine and this is because things considered to fit into psychology today were put in other categories throughout history. They were passed off as other ailments or labeled as nerves or stress (Tracy, 2013). Anxiety disorders were seen as a woman’s problem and unimportant. This is a misconception though, because both men and women suffer from anxiety disorders (Tracy, 2013). As time progressed many things were tried and most failed due to the little to no understanding of the cause. Many early treatments involved bloodletting, hydropathy, herbs and balms, bathing in very cold rivers or streams, and health spas (Tracy, 2013). The a...
Anxiety is a monster that most people have to deal with on a daily basis. Even though anxiety is not actually a monster it still torments thousands of people every day, leaving them weak and scared. Anxiety defined means “distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune” defined by Dictionary.com. In the epic poem of Beowulf, one could say that the townspeople had anxiety when it came to Grendel because they feared what he could do to them.
Beck, A. T., & Steer, R. (1993). Beck Anxiety Inventory 1993 Edition. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
There is an invisible epidemic. It is ever growing and yet remains hidden. Anxiety is an increasing problem in modern society and yet remains, most of the time, swept under the rug. There has been attempts to show what it means to have different anxieties and mental disorders in the film industry. While they may be made for money and for the public to enjoy, it still allows people to gather information and problems people must face every day. The Silver Linings Playbook captures the problem of a specific anxiety disorder (Russell, 2012). It follows the life of Pat Solitano, who was released from a mental institution in the opening scene. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a form of an anxiety disorder (Russell, 2012). This paper will analyze
There have been many debates about psychological disorders on whether they are acquired biologically (nature) or through learned behaviors and experiences people have (nurture). Anxiety Disorders is the most common mental disorder, affecting eighteen percent of the U.S population, roughly 40 million adults (ADAA). Anxiety is a normal emotion to experiences, but is different than just normal anxiety because it is where a person feels excessive or unrealistic anxiousness or fear. It is much more severe than just being nervous about making a decision, taking a test, or being faced with a problem. Anxiety disorder grows to the point where it becomes an inconvenience and someone can no longer live a normal life without the anxiousness butting in. Anxiety disorder can also take different forms such as OCD, panic disorder, and phobias. Although, there is not a specific reason as to why people develop this type of disorder, research suggest that someone’s genetics or the life experience they go through can greatly trigger this disorder. Some people believe that their DNA and the characteristics they inherit through their parents, is what makes them who they are. Others truly believe that behaviors can be learned from the environment they grow up in. One thing that can be said is, nature and nurture both play a role.
Do you know what it feels like to have your palms sweat, throat close up, and your fingers tremble? This is the everyday life of someone who lives with anxiety. As soon as I wake up in the morning, I hear my brain freaking out about the day ahead of me. What do I eat for breakfast? What do I do first when I get home from school? What happens if I get in a car crash on my way to school? A million thoughts at one time racing through my head. I never have the time to process all of them. Most mornings, I lay in my bed and have to take a few deep breaths to begin my hectic but not so hectic day. That’s just the beginning. It’s safe to say that I feel that I 'm an anxious person and that I have an anxiety disorder.
Fear is a necessary evil. Born out of the evolution of emotion, it serves to prevent irrational and dangerous activity. However, today, stress is no longer related to gathering food or finding shelter; it is related to business efficiency, interpersonal relationships, and other modern trivialities. As the world becomes more connected, fear and paranoia spread more rapidly. However, even though new technology has expedited the diffusion of negativity, humans have communicated for thousands of years. As humans began to think in a more complex manner, they began to worry. New communication methods and worrying combined led to humans sharing worries, which snowballed into larger scale paranoia. The social dynamic that leads to paranoia can
National Institute of Mental Health. (2009). Studying anxiety disorders. NIH Medline plus, 5, 13-15. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/anxiety-disorders/complete-index.shtml
Stressors initiate a response within the organism and causes changes in the body, specifically responses in the body’s autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system has two branches: the sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic autonomic nervous system helps the body deal with the stress it encounters, initiating the ‘fight or flight’ response. Once the threat has passed, the parasympathetic autonomic nervous system will take over, relaxing the body. There is a balance between these two in a healthy person. However, when someone stays on guard, using the sympathetic autonomic nervous system, all sorts of physical effects can