Chemistry of Anxiety
This neurotransmitter, often referred to as the "feel-good" chemical, is released during physical activity and can help reduce feelings of anxiety.
What are endorphins?
This anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about a variety of events or activities that lasts for at least six months.
What is generalized anxiety disorder?
This sensation of tightness or discomfort in the chest can often accompany anxiety, leading to feelings of panic.
What is chest pain?
This type of therapy focuses on changing negative thought patterns and behaviors and is commonly used to treat anxiety disorders.
What is cognitive behavioral therapy?
This form of anxiety is a more enduring personality characteristic, where individuals are generally more prone to experiencing anxiety across various situations.
What is trait anxiety?
This neurotransmitter, which regulates mood and anxiety, is often found in lower levels in individuals with anxiety disorders.
What is serotonin?
This anxiety disorder is characterized by persistent and excessive fear of social situations where one might be judged or scrutinized by others.
What is social anxiety disorder?
Anxiety often leads to this feeling of an elevated heart rate, which can make people think they're having a heart attack.
What is palpitations?
This class of medications, often prescribed for anxiety, works by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain and includes drugs like fluoxetine and sertraline.
What are SSRI's?
These types of inventories are the most commonly used when using psychological measures to measure anxiety.
What are self-report inventories?
This hormone, produced by the adrenal glands, is released in response to stress and plays a key role in the body’s "fight or flight" response.
What is cortisol?
This disorder involves intense fear of specific objects or situations, such as heights, spiders, or flying.
What is a phobia?
Chronic anxiety can lead to this condition, where muscle tension in the neck and shoulders causes pain and discomfort.
What is muscle tension?
These medications, such as lorazepam, are fast-acting and used for short-term relief of severe anxiety symptoms but are generally prescribed for only brief periods due to the risk of dependence.
What are benzodiazepines?
This type of anxiety is temporary and arises in response to a specific situation or event, often disappearing once the situation is over.
What is state anxiety?
This neurotransmitter, often associated with pleasure and reward, can also contribute to feelings of anxiety when levels are disrupted.
What is dopamine?
This anxiety disorder often occurs in response to experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, with symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, and hypervigilance.
What is post-traumatic stress disorder?
This coping mechanism involves steering clear of situations, places, or people that trigger anxiety, often reinforcing the fear and preventing individuals from confronting it.
What is avoidance?
This therapy, which involves confronting feared situations gradually to reduce anxiety, is commonly used for phobias and PTSD.
What is exposure therapy?
This widely used questionnaire measures both state anxiety (temporary) and trait anxiety (general tendency to experience anxiety).
What is the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)?
The “fight or flight” response is primarily mediated by this system in the body, which prepares the body to deal with perceived threats by releasing stress hormones like adrenaline.
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
This disorder involves anxiety and worry that specifically centers around the compulsive need to perform certain rituals or routines to reduce anxiety.
What is obsessive compulsive disorder?
This cognitive pattern involves persistent, intrusive thoughts about feared objects, activities, or situations, often leading to repetitive behaviors or mental acts aimed at reducing anxiety.
What are obsessions and compulsions?
This term refers to substances or medications that help reduce anxiety, often used to describe a class of drugs that includes benzodiazepines and certain antidepressants.
What is anti-anxiolytic?
This technique measures the electrical activity in muscles and is often used to assess muscle tension, which can increase during anxiety.
What is electromyography?