Page 19 - Vision Manual

someone who is experiencing anxiety over a specific event might engage in cyclical thinking (sometimes referred to as rumination) that can be incredibly hard to stop. These thoughts perpetuate the other symptoms as they keep the anxiety present and focused. Individuals with panic disorder might believe that they are having a heart attack or that they are dying, or going “crazy”. These thoughts and beliefs perpetuate the panic attack and cause the cycling to get more intense.
Questions: What is your experience of anxiety? How have you noticed that anxiety changes your behavior? Do you avoid things you might have otherwise engaged in? Have you felt your body change from anxiety? Do you notice when your thoughts turn ruminative or cyclical?
Specific Anxiety Disorders
Specific Phobia- An individual with specific phobia has a marked fear or anxiety about a specific object (e.g. spiders, dogs, butterflies) or situation (heights, being in the dark, confined spaces). The fear that comes from this object or situation is excessive and not warranted given the relative safety of the situation. This fear drives individuals with specific phobia to avoid situations where they might have even casual contact with the thing they fear, and thus disrupt routine and functioning.
Social Anxiety Disorder- This diagnosis is given when someone has a marked fear or anxiety as a result of being in a situation where they might be scrutinized or observed by others. This might include going to a mall, eating at a restaurant, relaxing in a park, or going to the doctor’s office. Social anxiety disorder leads to increased avoidance of these situations and includes thoughts that revolve around what other people are thinking in social situations.
Panic Disorder- Panic attacks are distinct events that happen for several minutes, and include physiological symptoms and mental ones. Oftentimes these symptoms include a pounding heart, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, feeling dizzy, feeling as if the world isn’t real, and having intense fear of losing control or dying. When panic attacks happen at least several times in a year and include avoidance of place or recurrent rumination about panic attacks a person is likely to be diagnosed with panic disorder.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder- Generalized anxiety disorder is a condition that does not involve a specific circumstance, object, or physical experience but is identified by marked excessive anxiety and worry. People with generalized anxiety disorder will report feeling restless, being easily fatigued, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbance.
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