This article is about state anxiety. For information on susceptibility to anxiety, see trait anxiety.

Anxiety is a physiological state characterized by cognitive, somatic, emotional, and behavioral components^[1]. Cognition is a concept used in different ways by different disciplines but is generally accepted to mean the process of awareness or thought "Somatic" redirects here for the musician known as Somatic see Hahn Rowe. An emotion is a mental and physiological state associated with a wide variety of feelings thoughts and behaviours Behavior or behaviour (see spelling differences) refers to the actions or Reactions of an object or Organism, usually These components combine to create the feelings that we typically recognize as anger and known as fear, apprehension, or worry. Fear is an Emotional response to Threats and Danger. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific Stimulus, such as Fear is an Emotional response to Threats and Danger. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific Stimulus, such as A well accepted theory of anxiety originally posited by Liebert and Morris in 1967 suggests that Anxiety consists of two components worry and emotionality Anxiety is often accompanied by physical sensations such as heart palpitations, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, stomach aches, or headache. A palpitation (medical term ectopic heart beat) is an abnormal awareness of the beating of the Heart, whether it is too slow too fast irregular Nausea ( Latin: Nausea, Greek:, " Sea-sickness " also called wamble) is the sensation of unease and discomfort In Medicine, chest pain is a Symptom of a number of serious conditions and is generally considered a Medical emergency. Dyspnea or dyspnoea (pronounced disp-nee-ah, IPA /dɪsp'niə/ from Latin dyspnoea, from Greek dyspnoia from Abdominal pain can be one of the Symptoms associated with transient disorders or serious disease Tension headaches, which were renamed tension-type headaches by the International Headache Society in 1988 are the most common type of primary Headaches The cognitive component entails expectation of a diffuse and certain danger. Somatically the body prepares the organism to deal with threat (known as an emergency reaction): blood pressure and heart rate are increased, sweating is increased, bloodflow to the major muscle groups is increased, and immune and digestive system functions are inhibited (the 'fight or flight' response). Blood pressure is also the title of a short story by Damon Runyan in Guys and Dolls and Other Stories Measuring heart rate The Pulse rate (which in most people is identical to the heart rate can be measured at any point on the body where an Artery 's pulsation An immune system is a collection of mechanisms within an Organism that protects against Disease by identifying and killing Pathogens and Tumor Digestion is the breaking down of chemicals in the body into a form that can be absorbed Externally, somatic signs of anxiety may include pale skin, sweating, trembling, and pupillary dilation. "Dilated pupil" redirects here An Eye examination sometimes requires the dilation of the pupil Emotionally, anxiety causes a sense of dread or panic and physically causes nausea, diarrhea, and chills. Behaviorally, both voluntary and involuntary behaviors may arise directed at escaping or avoiding the source of anxiety and often maladaptive, being most extreme in anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorder is a blanket term covering several different forms of abnormal pathological anxieties Fears and Phobias In clinical usage "fear" However, anxiety is not always pathological or maladaptive: it is a common emotion along with fear, anger, sadness, and happiness, and it has a very important function in relation to survival.

Neural circuitry involving the amygdala and hippocampus is thought to underlie anxiety^[2]. The la amygdalae ( Latin, also la corpus amygdaloideum, singular la amygdala, from Greek el αμυγδαλή grc-Latn amygdalē, 'almond' The hippocampus is a part of the Forebrain, located in the medial Temporal lobe. When confronted with unpleasant and potentially harmful stimuli such as foul odors or tastes, PET-scans show increased bloodflow in the amygdala. Positron emission tomography ( PET) is a Nuclear medicine imaging technique which produces a three-dimensional image or map of functional processes in the The la amygdalae ( Latin, also la corpus amygdaloideum, singular la amygdala, from Greek el αμυγδαλή grc-Latn amygdalē, 'almond' ^[3][4] In these studies, the participants also reported moderate anxiety. This might indicate that anxiety is a protective mechanism designed to prevent the organism from engaging in potentially harmful behaviors.

Symptoms

Although panic attacks are not experienced by every anxiety sufferer, they are a common symptom. Panic attacks are sudden discrete periods of intense anxiety mounting Physiological arousal fear stomach problems and discomfort that are associated with a variety of Panic attacks usually come without warning, and although the fear is generally irrational, the perceived danger is very real. A person experiencing a panic attack will often feel as if (s)he is about to die or pass out.

Emotional symptoms of anxiety include a fear (such as a fear of an illness), or the need to avoid certain stressful situations or social situations due to fear of embarrassment. There may be considerable confusion and irritability when the anxiety is taking place. Physical symptoms include hot flushes, chest pain, sudden tiredness, headaches, shortness of breath, problems digesting and nausea. Hot flashes (also known as hot flushes or night sweats if they happen at night are a symptom of the changing Hormone levels that are considered to be In Medicine, chest pain is a Symptom of a number of serious conditions and is generally considered a Medical emergency. Tension headaches, which were renamed tension-type headaches by the International Headache Society in 1988 are the most common type of primary Headaches Breathing takes Oxygen in and Carbon dioxide out of the body Aerobic Organisms require oxygen to create energy via respiration, in Nausea ( Latin: Nausea, Greek:, " Sea-sickness " also called wamble) is the sensation of unease and discomfort

Theories

Two factor theory of anxiety

Sigmund Freud recognized anxiety as a "signal of danger" and a cause of "defensive behavior". Sigmund Freud (ˈziːkmʊnt ˈfʁɔʏt born Sigismund Shlomo Freud (May 6 1856 &ndash September 23 1939 was an Austrian Psychiatrist who founded He believed we acquire anxious feelings through classical conditioning and traumatic experiences.

People maintain anxiety through operant conditioning; when people see or encounter something associated with a previous traumatic experience, anxious feelings resurface. We feel temporarily relieved when we avoid/remove ourselves from situations which make us anxious/fearful, known as negative-reinforcement, but this only increases anxious feelings the next time we are in the same position, and we will want to escape the situation again and therefore will not make any progress against the anxiety, only intensifying the emotions or fear. Phobias can be developed this way, as well as cured using the opposite positive-reinforcement whereby instead of removal from the anxiety causing situation (which acts as a 'reward' (negative-reinforcement)) something positive can be added to the situation instead to act as a reward, like actually facing the fear and coming away from it safely. This is known as positive reinforcement of a negative situation.

Types of anxiety

Existential anxiety

A 1987 tranquilizer advert with an indirect reference to existential anxiety: "In a world where certainties are few. . . no wonder Ativan® (lorazepam)C-IV is prescribed by so many caring clinicians. "

See more under existential crisis. Existential crisis, derived from Existentialism, is the psychologic panic and discomfort experienced when a human confronts questions of existence

Theologians like Paul Tillich and psychologists like Sigmund Freud have characterized anxiety as the reaction to what Tillich called, "The trauma of nonbeing. Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective Paul Johannes Tillich ( August 20, 1886 &ndash October 22, 1965) was a German - American theologian and Christian Sigmund Freud (ˈziːkmʊnt ˈfʁɔʏt born Sigismund Shlomo Freud (May 6 1856 &ndash September 23 1939 was an Austrian Psychiatrist who founded " That is, the human comes to realize that there is a point at which he or she might cease to be (die), and their encounter with reality becomes characterized by anxiety. Religion, according to both Tillich and Freud, then becomes a carefully crafted coping mechanism in response to this anxiety since they redefine death as the end of only the corporal part of human personal existence, assuming an immortal soul. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos The soul, according to many religious and philosophical beliefs is the self-awareness, or Consciousness, unique to a particular living What then becomes of this soul and through what criteria is the cardinal difference of various religious faiths. Faith is a Belief in the trustworthiness of an Idea. Formal usage of the word "faith" is usually reserved for concepts of Religion, as in

Philosophical ruminations are a part of this condition, and this is part of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD is a Chronic Anxiety disorder most commonly characterized by obsessive Distressing Intrusive thoughts They are typically about sex and religion or death. However, truly rational philosophical thinking is usually driven by a desire for a rational understanding of reality, rather than a desire to avoid death.

According to Viktor Frankl, author of Man's Search for Meaning, when faced with extreme mortal dangers the very basic of all human wishes is to find a meaning of life to combat this "trauma of nonbeing" as death is near and to succumb to it (even by suicide) seems like a way out. Viktor Emil Frankl MD, PhD, ( March 26, 1905 - September 2, 1997) was an Austrian neurologist Viktor Frankl 's 1946 book Man's Search for Meaning chronicles his experiences as a concentration camp inmate and describes his psychotherapeutic method See also Western philosophy, Eastern religions, Eastern philosophy The

The "father" of existentialism, Søren Kierkegaard, regarded all humans to be born into despair by default (in The Sickness Unto Death). Søren Aabye Kierkegaard (ˈsœːɐn ˈkʰiɐ̯kəˌɡ̊ɒˀ in Danish Anglicized as;) The Sickness Unto Death (Danish Sygdommen til Døden) is a book written by Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard in 1849 under the Pseudonym Such despair was created by having a false conception of the self. He regarded the mortal self which can exist relatively, and therefore be born or die, as the false self. The true self was the relationship of self to God, rather than to any relative object.

Test anxiety

Main article: Test anxiety

Test anxiety is the uneasiness, apprehension, or nervousness felt by students who have a fear of failing an exam. Test anxiety is a psychological condition in which a person experiences distress before during or after an Exam or other assessment to such an extent that this Anxiety Students suffering from test anxiety may experience any of the following: the association of grades with personal worth, fear of embarrassment by a teacher, fear of alienation from parents or friends, time pressures, or feeling a loss of control. Emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and physical components can all be present in test anxiety. Sweating, dizziness, headaches, racing heartbeats, nausea, fidgeting, and drumming on a desk are all common. An optimal level of arousal is necessary to best complete a task such as an exam; however, when the anxiety or level of arousal exceeds that optimum, it results in a decline in performance. Because test anxiety hinges on fear of negative evaluation, debate exists as to whether test anxiety is itself a unique anxiety disorder or whether it is a specific type of social phobia. In 2006, approximately 49% of high school students were reportedly experiencing this condition.

While the term "test anxiety" refers specifically to students, many adults share the same experience with regard to their career or profession. The fear of failing a task and being negatively evaluated for it can have a similarly negative effect on the adult.

Stranger and social anxiety

Main articles: stranger anxiety, socialisation, and social anxiety

Anxiety when meeting or interacting with unknown people is a common stage of development in young people. Stranger anxiety is a form of distress that Children experience when exposed to people unfamiliar to them The term socialization is used by sociologists, social psychologists and Educationalists to refer to the process of learning one’s Culture Social Phobia Social anxiety is a term used to describe an experience of Anxiety ( Emotional discomfort Fear, apprehension or Worry

So-called "stranger anxiety" in younger people is not a phobia in the classic sense; rather it is a developmentally appropriate fear by young children of those who do not share a loved-one, caretaker or parenting role. In adults, an excessive fear of other people is not a developmentally common stage; it is called social anxiety. Social Phobia Social anxiety is a term used to describe an experience of Anxiety ( Emotional discomfort Fear, apprehension or Worry

Anxiety in palliative care

Some research has strongly suggested that treating anxiety in cancer patients improves their quality of life. Cancer (medical term Malignant Neoplasm) is a class of Diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled The treatment generally consists of counseling, relaxation techniques or pharmacologically with benzodiazepines.

Herbal treatments

Marijuana has been used to treat anxiety , although due to its prohibition many countries do not employ its use. Cannabis, also known as marijuana or marihuana, or ganja (from Hindi / Sanskrit: गांजा gānjā hemp) is a Marijuana is also associated with causing anxiety. Cannabis, also known as marijuana or marihuana, or ganja (from Hindi / Sanskrit: गांजा gānjā hemp) is a Kava root is also an effective natural treatment for short-term relief of mild anxiety. KAVA (1480 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Regional Mexican format ^[5] Due to recent findings regarding side effects of prolonged used of Kava-Kava, some individuals have turned to other natural herbs such as valerian (herb) root, Chamomile, orange peel and peppermint, for example. Valerian ( Valeriana officinalis, Valerianaceae) is a hardy perennial flowering Plant, with heads of sweetly scented pink or white flowers

See also

• Anxiety disorder
• Anxiolytic
• Anxiety Disorders Association of America
• Beck Anxiety Inventory
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Panic attack
• Panic disorder

References

1. ^ Seligman, M.E.P., Walker, E. Anxiety disorder is a blanket term covering several different forms of abnormal pathological anxieties Fears and Phobias In clinical usage "fear" An anxiolytic is a drug prescribed for the treatment of Symptoms of Anxiety. "ADAA" redirects here For the American Dodgeball Association of America click here The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA is the only U The Beck Anxiety Inventory ( BAI) created by Dr Aaron T Beck, is a 21-question multiple-choice Self-report inventory that is used for measuring the Generalized anxiety disorder ( GAD) is an Anxiety disorder that is characterized by excessive uncontrollable and often irrational worry about everyday things that Panic attacks are sudden discrete periods of intense anxiety mounting Physiological arousal fear stomach problems and discomfort that are associated with a variety of Panic Disorder is a Psychological condition characterized by recurring Panic attacks in combination with significant behavioral change lasting at least a month Martin EP Seligman ( Albany New York, 12 August 1942) is an American Psychologist and Writer. F. & Rosenhan, D.L. (2001). David L Rosenhan is an American Psychologist. He is best known for the Rosenhan experiment. Abnormal psychology, (4th ed. ) New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. It can also be called "Butterflies in the Stomach. "
2. ^ Rosen JB, Schulkin J (1998). "From normal fear to pathological anxiety". Psychol Rev 105 (2): 325–50. PMID 9577241.  
3. ^ Zald, D. H. ; Pardo, J. V. (1997). "Emotion, olfaction, and the human amygdala: amygdala activation during aversive olfactory stimulation". Proc Nat'l Acad Sci 94 (8): 4119–24. doi:10.1073/pnas.94.8.4119. A digital object identifier ( DOI) is a permanent identifier given to an Electronic document. PMID 9108115.  
4. ^ Zald, D. H. ; Hagen, M. C. & Pardo, J. V. (2002). "[http:/jn. physiology. org/cgi/content/full/87/2/1068 Neural correlates of tasting concentrated quinine and sugar solutions]". J. Neurophysiol 87 (2): 1068–75. PMID 11826070.  
5. ^ Ernst E. (2002). "The risk-benefit profile of commonly used herbal therapies: Ginkgo, St. John's Wort, Ginseng, Echinacea, Saw Palmetto, and Kava". Ann Intern Med. 136 (1): 42–53. PMID 11777363.