Anxiety, phobias, OCD

• What is anxiety?

  Normal physiological response to a perceived threat

  • Mediated by complex neural pathways centred on amygdala
  • Usually ‘kept in check’ by cognitive appraisal of threat
  • via ventromedial prefrontal cortex
• What is the purpose of anxiety?

  Performance stimulation (motivation)

  Preparedness (anticipatory)

  Protects from danger

  Autonomic arousal (fight or flight)
• When does anxiety become a mental health problem?

  Response is out of proportion to stimulus

  Physical symptoms become debilitating

  Prevents from doing daily activities

  Chronicity

  Maladaptive (freezing response)

  Avoidance
• What are the physical symptoms of anxiety?

  (Not an extensive list)

  • Nausea
  • Abdominal discomfort - ‘churning’ ‘butterflies’
  • Lightheadedness
  • Sweating
  • Dry mouth
  • Paraesthesia ‘pins and needles’
  • Muscle tension
  • Restlessness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Palpitations
  • Chest pains
  • Headache
  • Insomnia
• What are the behavioural consequences of anxiety?

  Avoidance of feared/trigger situations

  Dysfunctional behaviours to try & rid of anxiety

  • substance misuse
  • misuse of prescribed drugs
  • self harming

  Disruption to daily life

  Reduced performance e.g. work, study

  Impaired relationships