acrophobia
the fear of heights
aerophobia
the fear of flying
agonist
a drug that effectively mimics the action of a natural chemical messenger
within the body
agoraphobia
the fear of public places or open spaces; agoraphobics try to avoid
being in situations from which they think escape would be difficult
or help and safety are not readily available; this is often diagnosed
in conjunction with panic disorder
anxiety
a sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physical symptoms
(such as sweating, tension, and increased heart rate)
anxiety
disorders a group of serious yet treatable health problems
affecting one in 10 Americans; anxiety disorders are caused by a combination
of biological and environmental factors
anxiolytics
the
medications that reduce the symptoms of anxiety
behavior
therapy the treatment used to help patients substitute
desirable responses and behavior patterns for undesirable ones
benzodiazepines
a class of drugs that act as tranquilizers; the most common side effects
are drowsiness and withdrawal symptoms upon abrupt ending of treatment
beta
blockers
a class of drugs typically used to decrease blood pressure and also
prescribed to ease physical symptoms of anxiety associated with social
phobia
claustrophobia
the fear of closed spaces
cognitive
therapy
a form of therapy stemming from the belief that emotional disorders
are caused by irrational yet habitual forms of thinking; these patterns
are viewed as behaviors that the therapist can try to help the patient
change
co-morbidity
the state of having two or more disorders at one time
A-C,
D-M, N-R, S-Z
depression
a biologically-based psychological disorder marked by sadness, inactivity,
difficulty with thinking and concentration, significant increase or
decrease in appetite and sleep, feelings of dejection and hopelessness,
and sometimes suicidal thoughts or actions
exposure
therapy a type of treatment that includes gradually bringing
patients into contact with a feared object or situation; patients
learn that the object or situation can be faced and that avoidance
is unnecessary
family
therapy the efforts aimed at helping a patient's family
understand and cope with the patient's disorder and help in the patient's
recovery
generalized
anxiety disorder (GAD) an excessive or unrealistic worry
that is unrelated to another illness and can last six months or more
genetically
predisposed the potential for an individual to develop
a condition or trait because of its presence in a family member
MAOIs
(monoamine oxidase inhibitors) potent anti-depressants
thought to regulate chemicals in the central nervous system; they
should rarely be the first medication used because they may interact
dangerously with many other medications, foods and beverages
A-C,
D-M, N-R, S-Z
neurosis
a long-term disorder featuring anxiety and/or exaggerated behavior
dedicated to avoiding anxiety; sufferers understand that the condition
is abnormal
neurotransmitter
a chemical substance released by nerve cell endings to transmit impulses
across the space between nerve cells, tissues or organs
obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD) a condition marked by persistent and recurring
thoughts (obsessions) typically reflecting exaggerated anxiety or
fears that have no basis in reality; sufferers often feel compelled
to perform a ritual or routine to help relieve anxiety caused by their
obsessions; sufferers typically realize the ritual or compulsion makes
no sense yet feel powerless to stop
palpitations
an abnormally rapid beating of the heart
panic
disorder a condition marked by episodes of immediate and
intense anxiety at inappropriate times; sufferers may experience palpitations,
feelings of faintness, chest pains, and a sensation that death is
imminent, even when there is no apparent threat or danger; individuals
who experience four or more unexplained attacks in a month, as well
as individuals who have fewer attacks but live in constant fear of
such an episode, may be suffering from the disorder
persistent
anxiety: see generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) a condition that results from experiencing
or witnessing an unusually distressing event; symptoms range from
repeatedly reliving the trauma, such as in dreams or flashbacks, to
general emotional numbness, which often causes sufferers to withdraw
from family and friends
progressive
muscle relaxation tensing
and relaxing the various muscle groups of the body in a systematic
manner, such as starting with the feet and legs and proceeding up
the body; this technique has been known to ease generalized anxiety
disorder symptoms
rebound
the return of original symptoms when treatment stops
A-C,
D-M, N-R, S-Z
SRIs
(serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
a class of anti-depressants used to treat anxiety disorders; they
are thought to work by boosting the amount of serotonin ( a neurotransmitter
linked to mood regulation) available to the brain; the most common
side effect associated with SRIs is mild nausea that generally diminishes
after a few weeks. Sexual dysfunction, primarily ejaculatory delay,
also has been reported
social
phobia an intense anxiety of being judged by others and/or
publicly behaving in a way tat could lead to embarrassment or ridicule;
perhaps most common is fear of public speaking
specific
phobia an illogical but real and intense fear of an object,
such as dogs or insects, or a situation, such as flying or closed
spaces; also known as single phobia or simple phobia.
synapse
gap at the end of a nerve fiber across which nerve impulses pass to
the next neuron
tricyclic
anti-depressants (TCAs) a class of anti-depressants useful
in some anxiety disorders; thought to work by regulating several neurotransmitters;
TCAs can produce a wide range of side effects, which should be discussed
with your doctor
withdrawal
symptoms physical or psychological symptoms such as convulsions,
tremor, vomiting, insomnia, anxiety, muscle pain and sweating that
follow the abrupt discontinuation of a drug that produces physical
dependence
A-C, D-M, N-R,
S-Z
Anxiety Disorders
Association of America
8730 Georgia Avenue, Suite 600
Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
Main # (240) 485-1001
Fax # (240) 485-1035
© 2004 Anxiety Disorders Association of America.
All Rights Reserved.
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