FEAR AND ANXIETY...
included in four neurotic disorders
FEAR AND ANXIETY
There are four neurotic disorders in which fear and anxiety are actually felt by the individual, and these divide into two classes: the fear disorders and the anxiety disorders. Phobias and post-traumatic stress disorders constitute the fear disorders; in these disorders, a specific object causes the anxiety.
In phobic disorders, the individual shows fear of an object (such as cats) which
is out of all proportion to the reality of the danger that object presents. In
post-traumatic stress disorders, the individual experiences anxiety, depression,
numbing, and constant reliving of the trauma after experiencing some
catastrophe beyond the normal range of human suffering. For example, an
undergraduate who was raped in her dormitory may subsequently relive the
trauma repeatedly in memory and in her dreams, becoming numb to the
world around her and experiencing intense anxiety whenever she is alone
with a man.
Panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder arc the anxiety disorders.
In these two disorders, no specific danger or object threatens the individual,
yet he or she still feels very anxious. In panic disorder, an indi vidual is suddenly
overwhelmed with brief attacks of anxiety, apprehension, and then
terror.
Generalized anxiety disorder, on the other hand, consists of chronic
anxiety that can be more or less continually present for months on end.
All four ofthese disorders share in common an exaggerated version of the
normal and adaptive fear that each of us has felt on many occasions. We
begin our discussion of these disorders by examining what fear and anxiety
are.
FEAR
All of us have experienced fear. The degree of danger we encounter has to do
in large part with our job, where we live, and so on. Being a member of a
team responsible for constructing an oil rig in the wintry North Sea opens
one up to more danger than being an accountant. But an accountant living
in New York City may experience more danger than one working in De
Kalb, Illinois. When the oilman experiences [car, it is directly related to the
danger of his situation; his reactions will be appropriate and normal. Similarly,
the accountant's heart has every reason to beat rapidly upon hearing a
noise at the window at three o'clock in the morning. Normal fear and anxiety,
unlike the disorders we will discuss in this chapter, are in keeping with
the reality of the danger.
Elements of Fear
When we experience danger, we undergo the various somatic and emotional
changes that make up the fear response.
There are four elements to the fear
response: (I) cognitive elements-expectations of impending harm; (2) somatic
elements-the body's emergency reaction to danger, as well as
changes in our appearance; (3) emotional elements-feelings of dread and
terror and panic; and (4) behavioral elements-fleeing and fighting (Lang,
1967; Rachman, 1978).
Fear may take several forms, and different elements may be involved. No
two individuals need display the same elements of fear when they are afraid.
Nor is there any particular element that must be present. Fear is diagnosed
according to the following logic: (1) all ofthe elements need not be present;
(2) some of the elements must be present, although there need not be the
same combination every time; (3) no one element must be present; (4) the
more intense any element and the more elements present, the more confident
are we in labeling the state as "fear."
What are each of these
elements of fear?
The cognitive elements of fear are expectations of specific impending
harm, usually in the immediate future. A large doberman growls menacingly
at you. You think, "He's going to bite me," and you feel a surge offear.
On a dark and lonely street, you sense a sudden movement behind you. You
think,"It's a mugger," and you freeze. You are unprepared at a recitation,
and the teacher calls on you. You break into a cold sweat as you think, "I'm
going to be humiliated."
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There are four neurotic disorders in which fear and anxiety are actually felt by the individual, and these divide into two classes: the fear disorders and the anxiety disorders. Phobias and post-traumatic stress disorders constitute the fear disorders; in these disorders, a specific object causes the anxiety.
In phobic disorders, the individual shows fear of an object (such as cats) which
is out of all proportion to the reality of the danger that object presents. In
post-traumatic stress disorders, the individual experiences anxiety, depression,
numbing, and constant reliving of the trauma after experiencing some
catastrophe beyond the normal range of human suffering. For example, an
undergraduate who was raped in her dormitory may subsequently relive the
trauma repeatedly in memory and in her dreams, becoming numb to the
world around her and experiencing intense anxiety whenever she is alone
with a man.
Panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder arc the anxiety disorders.
In these two disorders, no specific danger or object threatens the individual,
yet he or she still feels very anxious. In panic disorder, an indi vidual is suddenly
overwhelmed with brief attacks of anxiety, apprehension, and then
terror.
Generalized anxiety disorder, on the other hand, consists of chronic
anxiety that can be more or less continually present for months on end.
All four ofthese disorders share in common an exaggerated version of the
normal and adaptive fear that each of us has felt on many occasions. We
begin our discussion of these disorders by examining what fear and anxiety
are.
FEAR
All of us have experienced fear. The degree of danger we encounter has to do
in large part with our job, where we live, and so on. Being a member of a
team responsible for constructing an oil rig in the wintry North Sea opens
one up to more danger than being an accountant. But an accountant living
in New York City may experience more danger than one working in De
Kalb, Illinois. When the oilman experiences [car, it is directly related to the
danger of his situation; his reactions will be appropriate and normal. Similarly,
the accountant's heart has every reason to beat rapidly upon hearing a
noise at the window at three o'clock in the morning. Normal fear and anxiety,
unlike the disorders we will discuss in this chapter, are in keeping with
the reality of the danger.
Elements of Fear
When we experience danger, we undergo the various somatic and emotional
changes that make up the fear response.
There are four elements to the fear
response: (I) cognitive elements-expectations of impending harm; (2) somatic
elements-the body's emergency reaction to danger, as well as
changes in our appearance; (3) emotional elements-feelings of dread and
terror and panic; and (4) behavioral elements-fleeing and fighting (Lang,
1967; Rachman, 1978).
Fear may take several forms, and different elements may be involved. No
two individuals need display the same elements of fear when they are afraid.
Nor is there any particular element that must be present. Fear is diagnosed
according to the following logic: (1) all ofthe elements need not be present;
(2) some of the elements must be present, although there need not be the
same combination every time; (3) no one element must be present; (4) the
more intense any element and the more elements present, the more confident
are we in labeling the state as "fear."
What are each of these
elements of fear?
The cognitive elements of fear are expectations of specific impending
harm, usually in the immediate future. A large doberman growls menacingly
at you. You think, "He's going to bite me," and you feel a surge offear.
On a dark and lonely street, you sense a sudden movement behind you. You
think,"It's a mugger," and you freeze. You are unprepared at a recitation,
and the teacher calls on you. You break into a cold sweat as you think, "I'm
going to be humiliated."
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Treating Social Anxiety
Generalized Anxiety Treatment
Treating Panic Disorder
Agoraphobia Treatment
More at:
http://social-anxiety-treatment-cure.weebly.com/
Of course you know the treatment method I recommend!
http://theliberatormethod.com/Welcome.html
END
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Generalized Anxiety Treatment
Treating Panic Disorder
Agoraphobia Treatment
More at:
http://social-anxiety-treatment-cure.weebly.com/
Of course you know the treatment method I recommend!
http://theliberatormethod.com/Welcome.html
END
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