Stress & Coping
This system controls the body’s physical response to stress and activates fight-or-flight.
This level of anxiety improves learning and awareness.
What is mild anxiety?
Returning to earlier behaviors when stressed.
What is regression?
This is a subconscious defense mechanism that protects from trauma.
What is dissociation?
Needing more of a drug to get the same effect.
What is tolerance?
This type of stress is short-term and may cause fear, helplessness, and intense anxiety.
What is acute stress?
This level causes narrowed focus but allows redirection.
What is moderate anxiety?
Trying to “cancel out” a bad behavior with a good one.
What is undoing?
Feeling detached from yourself, like watching your body.
What is depersonalization?
Symptoms like tremors, N/V, and seizures 6–8 hours after last drink.
What is alcohol withdrawal?
This long-term stress can lead to sleep disturbances, substance use, and low self-esteem.
What is chronic stress?
This level includes increased VS, irritability, and very limited perception.
What is severe anxiety?
Seeing people as all good or all bad.
What is splitting?
Feeling like the environment is unreal or dream-like
What is derealization?
This scale measures severity of alcohol withdrawal.
What is CIWA-Ar?
This coping strategy helps change negative thought patterns and is used in CBT
What is cognitive reframing?
At this level, the patient loses control and focuses only on survival.
What is panic anxiety?
This type of thinking is also called black-and-white thinking.
What is dichotomous thinking?
These include nightmares, intrusive thoughts, and hyperarousal
What are PTSD symptoms?
This life-threatening condition occurs ~3 days after stopping alcohol
What is delirium tremens (DTs)?
This relaxation technique activates the parasympathetic system and reduces anxiety.
What is deep breathing?
Priority intervention for a patient in panic-level anxiety.
What is ensuring safety and staying with the patient?
This personality disorder is most associated with splitting.
What is borderline personality disorder?
Higher levels of this lead to better outcomes after trauma.
What is resilience?
Medication that reverses opioid overdose rapidly.
What is naloxone (Narcan)?