Understanding Anxiety
This physical symptom is often experienced when the body is in a fight-or-flight response and involves a feeling of rapid heartbeat:
A) Sweating
B) Increased heart rate
C) Trembling
D) Shortness of breath
B) Increased heart rate
This technique helps to reduce some of the physical symptoms of anxiety, through tensing and relaxing muscles in a specific order.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
The ___________ breathing technique is used to manage anxiety, involving inhaling for a count of four, holding for four, and exhaling for four.
box
Anxiety is just something people can "snap out of" if they try hard enough.
Myth
Anxiety is a real mental health condition that often requires treatment and coping strategies.
How can anxiety affect communication in relationships?
A) It can make people more talkative.
B) It can cause people to avoid difficult conversations.
C) It always makes people more assertive.
D) It has no impact on communication.
B) It can cause people to avoid difficult conversations.
This type of anxiety is characterized by excessive worry about everyday situations, often for six months or longer:
A) Panic Disorder
B) Generalized Anxiety Disorder
C) Social Anxiety Disorder
D) Agoraphobia
B) Generalized Anxiety Disorder
This food can actually help reduce anxiety.
Dark chocolate
True or False: Taking regular breaks and engaging in self-care activities like walking can help alleviate anxiety symptoms.
True !
Anxiety is always triggered by external stressors.
MYTH
While external stressors can trigger anxiety, it can also occur without any obvious triggers, sometimes due to internal thoughts or biological factors.
Which of the following is a common way anxiety might affect romantic relationships?
A) Increased emotional intimacy
B) Fear of rejection or abandonment
C) Improved communication skills
D) Decreased need for reassurance
B) Fear of rejection or abandonment
True or False: Racing thoughts are a common cognitive symptom experienced by individuals with anxiety.
True!
This is the term for withholding emotions, which can aggravate stress & anxiety
Emotional suppression
This coping strategy involves engaging in an activity that shifts attention away from anxious feelings, like doing a puzzle or reading.
A) Cognitive restructuring
B) Exercise
C) Distraction
D) Thought diffusion
C) Distraction
People with anxiety are more likely to be perfectionists.
Fact – Perfectionism can be a trait that many people with anxiety have, as they may fear making mistakes or not meeting expectations.
True or False: People with anxiety are more likely to over-communicate their feelings in relationships.
False – Anxiety often leads to avoidance of communication or overthinking before speaking, which can lead to silence or miscommunication.
Which of the following is a common trigger for anxiety?
A) Major life stressors
B) Eating too much sugar
C) Regular exercise
D) Staying well hydrated
A) Major life stressors
This method aims to reduce some of the mental causes of anxiety, and involves asking yourself open ended questions.
Socratic questioning
Avoiding social situations is a recommended long-term strategy for managing social anxiety. True or False?
False!
People with anxiety should avoid caffeine
Fact – For some people, caffeine can increase anxiety symptoms, though it varies from person to person. Everything in moderation!
Pamela feels anxious at family gatherings and often cancels plans with her relatives because of it. How might this behavior impact her family relationships?
A) Her family might feel hurt by her absence and wonder if they did something wrong.
B) Her anxiety will cause the family to feel less connected.
C) Both A and B.
D) Pamela's family will likely understand without any negative feelings.
C) Both A and B.
This cognitive distortion involves expecting the worst possible outcome, even in neutral or ambiguous situations. It’s called ____________ thinking.
Catastrophic
What helps when you might have improved many different areas of your life but still experience feelings of anxiety or emptiness?
Finding a purpose in life / finding meaning in life / etc
This practice involves fully accepting emotions without judgment and allowing yourself to feel them without resistance.
A) Emotional avoidance
B) Mindfulness acceptance
C) Thought suppression
D) Self-criticism
B) Mindfulness Acceptance
Anxiety is always obvious to others.
Myth – Many people with anxiety hide their symptoms well, and it’s not always apparent to others when someone is struggling.
Which of the following behaviors might indicate anxiety in a family member?
A) Initiating frequent arguments with family members.
B) Avoiding family gatherings or social events.
C) Volunteering for extra chores to avoid social interactions.
D) Constantly trying to please everyone in the family.
B, C, and D