Anxiety

• Anxiety: a negative mood state characterized by bodily symptoms of physical tension and by apprehension in the fuure.
• Moderate: needed anxiety that is good
• Fear is an immediate alarm reaction to danger (not future-oriented).
• Panic attack: a sudden episode of intense fear
• Two types of panic attack: expected/cued panic attack and unexpected/uncued panic attack
• Unexpected attacks are important in panic disorder
• Corticotropin-Releasing Factor: initiating factor of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axi.
• Behavioral Inhibition System: the goal is to move way from something unpleasant.
• Flight or Fight System: when stimulated this circuit produces and immediate alarm and escape response.
• Sense of uncontrollability: may develop early as a function of upbrining and other disruptive or traumatic environmental factors/
• Anxiety Sensitiviy: a personality trait characterized by the general tendency to respond fearfully to anxiety symptoms.
• External Cues: places or situations similar to the one where the initial panic attack occured.
• Internal Cues: bodily symptoms that were associated with the initial panic attack, even if they are now the result of normal circumstances, such as exercise.