Anxiety Psychology Theory

869 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Treatment of trauma as a cause of mental disorder thesis

Anixety Anxiety is defined as a diffuse, internal, loose floating tension that doesn’t have a real danger or an external object. There is also a significant difference from the notion of fear. Fear usually has an outer object (a real fear of a snake, height or an unreal fear, when the danger is just imagined). Anxiety does not have an external object or external danger, but have an internal danger. Internal danger can be some intrapsychic conflict, impulse unacceptable to the ego, suppressed thoughts, etc. Data from a Western country of 25 million people say that combined anxiety disorders affect 12% of the population: 9% of men and 16% of women over a year. As a group, anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental disorders. There …show more content…

A number of different theories have been proposed to explain how these factors contribute to the development of this disorder. The first theory is experiential: people can learn their fear after an initial unpleasant experience such as a humiliating situation, physical or sexual abuse, or just attending a violent act. Similar experiences that follow add to the anxiety. According to another theory, which refers to cognition or thinking, people believe or predict that the outcome of a particular situation will be degrading or harmful to them. This can happen, for example, if parents are overly protective and constantly alert to potential problems. The third theory focuses on biological basics. Research suggests that the amygdala, a structure deep inside the brain, serves as a communication center that signals the presence of threats, and triggers a response in the form of fear or …show more content…

Adequate recognition and treatment also helps to prevent frequent secondary disorders such as depression and the abuse of alcohol and psychoactive substances. Delaying the search and getting diagnosis and treatment can be attributed to a variety of factors, such as: stigma (embarrassment, lying), lack of human resources, knowledge or financial reasons. In addition, physicians do not always recognize the pattern in the symptoms of one person that would lead them to the right diagnosis. Often, symptoms are not taken seriously and a person with anxiety disorder is labeled "emotionally unstable". An overview of anxiety disorders suggests that effective treatment would include drug therapy (antidepressants, anxiolytics), and cognitive-behavioral therapy that helps people to transform their thoughts about anything that overwhelms them into more rational ideas. Support groups for individuals and families can also help to create tools for reducing symptoms and dealing with

Show More
Related

  • Anxiety In Beowulf

    776 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Clinically Significant Fear and Anxiety

    1408 Words  | 3 Pages

    (198)First, we need to understand what fear and anxiety is. Fear is when the nervous system responds to a threat to ones well being. Anxiety is when there is a vague sense of danger. Both of these term help the body determine when action needs to be taken like “Fight” or “Flight”. When they both come clinically significant is when people can’t not live there normal lives without one or there other or both interfering. “Their discomfort is so server or to frequent, last too long, or is trigger to easily, (Comer, 2013, pp.114)”. Then they are termed with having an anxiety disorder or some other disorder. Most psychologist use the DSM-5 check list when diagnosing a patient with anxiety disorder. They look for these signs that the DSM-5 list:

    Read More

  • Describe The Relationship Between Feelings And Response Patterns In Critical Thinking

    657 Words  | 2 Pages

    Anxiety is an extremely common feeling that occurs in everyday life. If I go out and meet new people, I get anxious while initiating a conversation with them. If any kind of crisis will happen in front of me for the first time I will get anxious for sure. For example,

    Read More

  • Biological and Psychological Explanations of Anxiety Disorders

    484 Words  | 1 Pages

    When anxiety disorders are treated, the fact that often both treatments are

    Read More

  • Anxiety Disorders

    1036 Words  | 3 Pages

    Anxiety is a feeling of tension associated with a sense of threat of danger when the source of the danger is not known. In comparison, fear is a feeling of tension that is associated with a known source of danger. I believe it is normal for us to have some mild anxiety present in our daily lives. Everyday that I can think of I have some kind of anxiety though out that day. Anxiety warns us and enables us to get ready for the ‘fight or flight’ response. However, heightened anxiety is emotionally painful. It disrupts a person's daily functioning.

    Read More

  • Dr. Mercola Anxiety

    332 Words  | 1 Pages

    Anxiety according to Dr.Mercola, “anxiety is a natural normal response to potential, threats, which puts your body into a heightened state of awareness.” (Dr. Mercola) People are often unaware and disregard the severity of the disorder, thus mistaking anxiety for stress. On the contrary, anxiety has many similarities to stress,but stress is an anxiety trigger.(Henry) Frequently the causes of anxiety are unknown or result with our a clear cause rather by its own will.( Henry) The disorder most distinct feature is its internal trigger and its internal response, unlike many other disorders frequently caused internally by the victim without their knowledge.(Henry) “[Anxiety like stress, triggers]... a flood of stress hormones like cortisol

    Read More

  • The Six Most Common Forms of Anxiety

    1075 Words  | 3 Pages

    Everyday we experience anxiety. Normally, it’s the feeling you get right before a test, recital, or an interview, but sometimes and for some people it can be a whole lot worse. It can even result in terrible panic attacks that affect the way they live. Anxiety is defined as a general term for several disorders that cause nervousness, worrying,, and fear. Severe anxiety is the most common mental illness and affects 40 million people in the U.S. That’s about 18% of our population. We all get mild anxiety from time to time, but there are more severe cases, types, and forms to this illness. I will tell you about the type of anxiety that could be harmful to your everyday life. Today I will tell you about the types of anxiety, the different treatment options you have, and how these disorders could affect your everyday life.

    Read More

  • The Anxiety Of Anxiety Disorders

    1110 Words  | 3 Pages

    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).

    Read More

  • Causes And Effects Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

    1128 Words  | 3 Pages

    The majority of the world’s population occasionally experiences stress and anxiety caused by problems or events. However, some people continuously worry over a variety of daily issues; they most likely have a psychological disorder called generalized anxiety disorder, also known as GAD. Their fears can become intense and severe, interfering with their daily lives. Besides excessive worry, fatigue, restlessness, irritability, and muscle tension are also known to be part of the diagnostic criteria for GAD. The several potential risk factors and causes of GAD are genetics, brain structure, environment, and personality. Along with its numerous symptoms and causes, generalized anxiety disorder also has many forms of treatment, including medication, cognitive therapy, and supplements. How well the patient responds to treatment depends on the severity of the disorder, but generalized anxiety disorder is often treated successfully.

    Read More

  • The Problems of Anxiety Disorders

    1307 Words  | 3 Pages

    Anxiety is a normal reaction to a threatening situation and results from an increase in the amount of adrenaline from the sympathetic nervous system. This increased adrenaline speeds the heart and respiration rate, raises blood pressure, and diverts blood flow to the muscles. These physical reactions are appropriate for escaping from danger but when they cause anxiety in many situations throughout the day, they may be detrimental to a normal lifestyle. An anxiety disorder is a disorder where feelings of fear, apprehension, or anxiety are disruptive or cause distortions in behavior, (Coon, 526); they are psychiatric illnesses that are not useful for normal functioning. At times, an underlying illness or disease can cause persistent anxiety. Treatment of the illness or disease will stop the anxiety. Anxiety illnesses affect more than 23 million Americans with about 10 million Americans suffering from the most common, general anxiety disorder . (Harvard, 1). Common anxiety disorders are panic attacks (panic disorder), phobias, and general anxiety disorder (GAD). Panic attacks Panic attacks can begin with a feeling of intense terror followed by physical symptoms of anxiety. A panic attack is characterized by unpredictable attacks of severe anxiety with symptoms not related to any particular situation. (Hale, 1886). The person experiencing the attack may not be aware of the cause. Symptoms include four or more of the following: pounding heart, difficulty breathing, dizziness, chest pain, shaking, sweating, choking, nausea, depersonalization, numbness, fear of dying, flushes, fear of going crazy. Heredity, metabolic factors, hyperventilation, and psychological factors may contribute to anxiety causing panic attacks.

    Read More

  • Anxiety vs. the Body

    1780 Words  | 4 Pages

    Anxiety is a term for several disorders that causes the body to feel fear, nervousness, apprehension, and worrying, "Anxiety is a word we use for some types of fear that are consequently to do with the thought of a threat or something going wrong in the future, rather than right now" (Mental Health Foundation). Many people suffer from anxiety every day, consequently most people can not pinpoint what exactly their anxiety originates from. No one likes to experience stress and anxiety, but it is just a phase of life that most humans have to overcome and become stronger. Anxiety disorders are one of the most inferior mental illnesses that affects teens and adults in the United States. Anxiety negatively affects the body and

    Read More

  • What Is The Humanistic View Of Anxiety?

    715 Words  | 2 Pages

    Muscle aches, trouble concentrating, and being tired all the time, these are some effects that anxiety disorders can have on a person. Jake has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Just like there are many different causes and different types of disorders, there are also many ways to treat the disorders. Three different types will be explained within this essay. Number one, the humanistic approach, or being able to fulfill a personal potential. Number two, the behavioral view of the change in behaviors, and then the third, the cognitive side, or mental processes. By looking at these specific views, we will define them and see where they believe the causes are formed and the care they can give to help in combating the anxieties of life.

    Read More

  • The Anxiety/Uncertainty Management Theory

    693 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to William B. Gudykunst in his article "A Model of Uncertainty Reduction in Intercultural Encounters," the uncertainty reduction theory explains initial interactions between two strangers from the same culture. Studies, however, suggest this theory can also be extended to interpersonal communication between two people from different cultures.

    Read More

  • Anxiety and Depression

    1470 Words  | 3 Pages

    Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. Every person experiences some form of anxiety in his or her lifetime. Anxiety helps us deal with tense situations like using our flight or fight reaction, study harder for an exam, or keep focus on important deadlines. Anxiety can be useful until it gets to the point of interfering with everyday life. Some people explain it as not being able to shut the anxiety off. When anxiety becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it becomes a disabling disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, 2009). Each year, anxiety disorders affect about 40 million American adults age 18 years and older (National Institute of Mental Health, 2009). There are five major Anxiety Disorders they include Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Panic Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Phobias.

    Read More

  • Development Of Fear Essay

    710 Words  | 2 Pages

    It has been said by many scientists that fear is a natural phenomenon that majorities of people have experienced at one point in time due to various stimuli with largely negative outcomes. Fear has been known to distort emotions, actions, and perceptions and people who have suffered as a result of this fear can lead to have uncontrollable ramifications. There are several factors that attribute to the brain’s development of fear and it reigns that the human brain processes specific experiences for every person and therefore plants the seed of fear. Fear has been defined in a number of ways, the primary way in which it has been expressed, is as a “chain reaction in the brain that starts with a stressful stimulus and ends with the release of chemicals”

    Read More

More about Anxiety Psychology Theory

Open Document