Generalized Anxiety Disorder & Panic Anxiety Lam#27, Linh#28 Per.6 Generalized Anxiety Disorder & Panic Anxiety

Case Study Homer, who is eating a snack calmly, gets an unexpected wave of panic, out of nowhere. His heart raced, and became sweaty, worrying he may die. To make matters worse, he finds himself with nowhere to escape very easily

Definitions Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-psychological problem characterized by persistent feelings of anxiety without external cause. Symptoms: -constant worry over nothing -no relaxation -jumpy -nausea Panic Disorder: sudden urge of overwhelming anxiety and fear; unlike GAD victim is usually free of anxiety between panic attacks. -uncontrollable breathing and heart rate

Theories of These Disorders Biological Perspective: -There’s imbalance of seretonin (mood), norepinephrine (sleep), and GABA (relaxing) Psychodynamic Perspective: -This includes the unconscious mental life and defense mechanisms until alertness Cognitive-Behavioral Perspective: -Theorists viewed panic attacks as conditioned response to learned physical sensations Humanistic Perspective: -People with panic disorders or GAD may not be meeting their safety need of their goals

Treatments of GAD For GAD: -Use the method of this acronym: AWARE Acceptance (welcome it, don’t fight it) Watch (look at your anxiety w/o judgments; separate yourself from it) Act with it (breathe slowly and normally; allow anxiety to leave your mind) Repeat (continue the three steps) Expect the best (know your potential anxiety for your future)

The Drug Route Benzodiazephines Barbituates Valium

Facts Victims of panic disorder have addition symptoms of agoraphobia (open space) Agoraphobia affects 35%-37% of population a year with GAD You can get accustomed to anxiety that you won’t even feel it anymore but your body still shows signs of anxiety Animals also have anxiety

Sources That darn psych book….. Helpguide.org/mental/generalized_anxiety_disorder.htm Webmd.com/facts_of_panic_disorder.htm wikipedia.org/disorders.htm