Anxiety

• Anxiety is caused by a decrease of the neurotransmitter GABA
• Anxiety is a contagious conditon so the initial nursing action is to determine own anxiety level
• In anxiety, the priority is SAFETY so the nurse must stay with the patient
• Anxiety 


  A vague feeling of dread that is unwarranted by the situation.
• Anxiety

  "fear of the unknown"
• Anxiety

  Normal response to stress
• Levels of Anxiety

  Mild

  • Increased alertness; Learning is effective; Normal
• Levels of Anxiety

  Moderate

  • Selective attention; Circumstantiality and pacing; Can be redirected
• Levels of Anxiety

  Moderate

  • Parasympathetic response - All WET
• Levels of Anxiety

  Mild

  • Gastrointestinal butterflies
• Levels of Anxiety

  Severe

  • Cannot complete task; Cannot solve problem; Cannot be redirected
• Levels of Anxiety

  Severe

  • Somatization (Chest pain, severe headache)
• Levels of Anxiety

  Panic

  • Delusions and Hallucinations; Violence and Suicide
• Levels of Anxiety

  Mild

  • Intervention: Acknowledgement and Verbalization
• Levels of Anxiety

  Moderate

  • Intervention: Redirect; Refocus; ORAL anxiolytics
• Levels of Anxiety

  Severe

  • Intervention: Attend to physical symptoms FIRST; IM anxiolytics
• Levels of Anxiety

  Panic

  • Intervention: Take Control; Restraint if needed
• Grounding technique 


  Best intervention with anxiety attacks, which serves as distraction e.g. "5 things you can see"
• During panic attack, it is important for the nurse to help the patient to take control within the first 15 minutes
• The drug of choice when treating anxiety are Benzodiazepines and Azapirones
• Flumazenil - antidote of Benzodiazepines
• When taking benzodiazepines, the nurse must teach the patient to avoid Alcohol as it can cause respiratory depression
• Types of Anxiety

  Signal Anxiety

  • response to an anticipated event
• Types of Anxiety

  Anxiety Trait

  • component of personality that has been present over a long period and it is measurable by observing the person's physiologic, emotional, and cognitive behavior
• Types of Anxiety

  Anxiety State

  • occurs as the result of a stressful situation in which th e person loses control over emotions
• Types of Anxiety

  Free-floating Anxiety

  • anxiety that is always present and accompanied by a feeling of dread