B.A (HONS.) PSYCHOLOGY SEMESTER IV – UNDERSTANDING MENTAL DISORDER | UNIT 1, Lesson 3: Anxiety Disorders | Simplified Notes
Introduction
Anxiety is a normal human emotion.
Everyone experiences anxiety before:
- Exams
- Interviews
- Public speaking
- Dangerous situations
However, anxiety becomes a disorder when it is:
- Excessive
- Persistent
- Irrational
- Difficult to control
- Interfering with daily life
Meaning of Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety disorders are psychological disorders characterized by:
- Excessive fear
- Worry
- Nervousness
- Apprehension
- Physical tension
These reactions occur even when:
- Actual danger is absent or minimal.
Difference Between Fear and Anxiety
| Fear | Anxiety |
|---|---|
| Response to immediate danger | Response to anticipated danger |
| Specific threat present | Vague or future threat |
| Short-term | More prolonged |
Common Symptoms of Anxiety
Psychological Symptoms
- Excessive worry
- Fear
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
Physical Symptoms
- Sweating
- Rapid heartbeat
- Trembling
- Muscle tension
- Breathlessness
- Dizziness
3.3 Types of Anxiety Disorders
Main anxiety disorders discussed in the lesson:
- Phobias
- Specific Phobia
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Agoraphobia
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
3.4 Phobia
Meaning
A phobia is:
An intense, irrational, and persistent fear of a particular object, situation, or activity.
The fear is:
- Out of proportion to actual danger
- Difficult to control
Features of Phobia
- Immediate anxiety response
- Avoidance behavior
- Recognition that fear is excessive
- Interference in normal life
Example
A person with dog phobia may:
- Panic even seeing a small harmless puppy.
3.5 Specific Phobias
Specific phobia involves fear of a particular object or situation.
Common Types of Specific Phobia
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Animal Type | Dogs, snakes, spiders |
| Natural Environment | Storms, heights, water |
| Blood-Injection-Injury | Needles, blood |
| Situational Type | Elevators, airplanes |
| Other | Choking, loud sounds |
Clinical Picture of Specific Phobia
A person may experience:
- Extreme fear
- Panic attacks
- Avoidance
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Increased heartbeat
Even thinking about the feared object may create anxiety.
Example
A person afraid of elevators may:
- Use stairs even for 20 floors.
Dynamics of Specific Phobia
“Dynamics” means causes and underlying mechanisms.
Causes of Specific Phobia
1. Classical Conditioning
Developed by:
Ivan Pavlov
Fear develops after traumatic experiences.
Example:
- Dog bite → lifelong dog phobia
2. Observational Learning
Developed by:
Albert Bandura
Fear can be learned by observing others.
Example:
- Child sees mother fear snakes → develops snake phobia
3. Evolutionary Factors
Humans are biologically prepared to fear dangerous things.
Examples:
- Snakes
- Heights
- Darkness
Because these threatened survival historically.
3.6 Clinical Picture of Other Phobias
Phobias produce:
- Intense fear
- Avoidance
- Panic symptoms
Daily functioning becomes impaired.
Common Behavioral Features
- Escaping feared situations
- Dependence on others
- Safety behaviors
Emotional Features
- Embarrassment
- Shame
- Helplessness
Cognitive Features
People may think:
- “I will die.”
- “I will lose control.”
- “Something terrible will happen.”
3.7 Dynamics of Specific Phobia
Specific phobia continues because of:
Avoidance Reinforcement
Avoiding feared objects reduces anxiety temporarily.
This relief reinforces avoidance.
Thus:
Fear never decreases naturally.
Example
A person avoiding airplanes:
- Never learns flying is safe.
So fear continues.
3.8 Social Phobia / Social Anxiety Disorder
Meaning
Social anxiety disorder is:
Extreme fear of social or performance situations where embarrassment may occur.
Common Feared Situations
- Public speaking
- Eating in public
- Meeting strangers
- Talking to authority figures
- Performing on stage
Core Fear
Fear of:
- Negative evaluation
- Rejection
- Humiliation
Example
A student may avoid presentations because of fear of being judged.
3.9 Clinical Picture of Social Anxiety Disorder
Emotional Symptoms
- Intense nervousness
- Fear of humiliation
- Shame
Physical Symptoms
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Blushing
- Shaking voice
- Rapid heartbeat
Behavioral Symptoms
- Avoiding social situations
- Poor eye contact
- Isolation
Cognitive Symptoms
Negative thoughts like:
- “Everyone is judging me.”
- “I’ll embarrass myself.”
Consequences
Social anxiety may affect:
- Education
- Career
- Relationships
3.10 Dynamics of Social Anxiety Disorder
Causes
1. Biological Factors
- Genetic predisposition
- Overactive fear response
2. Psychological Factors
Negative Experiences
- Bullying
- Criticism
- Humiliation
3. Cognitive Factors
People develop:
- Negative self-beliefs
- Fear of evaluation
Maintenance Factors
Avoidance maintains anxiety.
Because:
- Person never learns social situations are manageable.
Example
Avoiding public speaking prevents confidence development.
3.11 Agoraphobia
Meaning
Agoraphobia is:
Fear of situations where escape may be difficult or help unavailable during panic-like symptoms.
Common Feared Situations
- Crowds
- Public transport
- Open spaces
- Shopping malls
- Being outside alone
Misconception
Agoraphobia does NOT simply mean fear of open spaces.
It mainly involves:
- Fear of being trapped
- Fear of helplessness
Example
A person may avoid:
- Buses
- Markets
- Theatres
because escape feels difficult.
3.12 Clinical Picture of Agoraphobia
Symptoms include:
- Panic
- Fear of losing control
- Dizziness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Avoidance of public places
Severe Cases
Some individuals become:
- Housebound
- Completely dependent on family
Emotional Consequences
- Depression
- Isolation
- Loss of independence
3.13 Dynamics of Agoraphobia
Causes
1. Panic Experiences
A person may experience panic in public once.
Later:
- They fear recurrence.
Example
Someone having panic attack in metro:
- Starts avoiding metro permanently.
2. Conditioning
Public places become associated with danger.
3. Cognitive Misinterpretation
Normal body sensations are interpreted catastrophically.
Example:
- Fast heartbeat = “I’m dying.”
3.14 Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Meaning
Generalized Anxiety Disorder involves:
Excessive, uncontrollable worry about many life situations.
Areas of Worry
- Health
- Money
- Family
- Studies
- Work
- Future
Key Feature
Worry is:
- Persistent
- Difficult to control
- Out of proportion
3.15 Clinical Picture of GAD
Psychological Symptoms
- Constant worry
- Nervousness
- Feeling “on edge”
- Difficulty concentrating
Physical Symptoms
- Muscle tension
- Fatigue
- Sleep disturbance
- Headaches
- Restlessness
Behavioral Symptoms
- Reassurance seeking
- Overthinking
- Procrastination
Example
A person worries continuously even when nothing serious is wrong.
3.16 Dynamics of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Causes of GAD
1. Biological Factors
- Genetic vulnerability
- Neurotransmitter imbalance
Especially:
- GABA dysfunction
2. Cognitive Factors
People with GAD:
- Overestimate danger
- Expect worst outcomes
Example
Minor mistake →
“Everything will be ruined.”
3. Behavioral Factors
Worry becomes habitual.
Some people believe:
- Worry prevents bad things.
4. Sociocultural Stress
Chronic stress increases anxiety.
Examples:
- Financial insecurity
- Academic pressure
- Family conflict
3.17 Biological Causal Factors
Biological causes common in anxiety disorders include:
1. Genetics
Anxiety disorders tend to run in families.
2. Neurotransmitters
Especially:
- GABA
- Serotonin
- Norepinephrine
Imbalance increases anxiety.
3. Brain Structures
Important brain areas:
| Brain Area | Function |
|---|---|
| Amygdala | Fear processing |
| Limbic System | Emotional reactions |
Overactivity leads to excessive fear.
3.18 Causes of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders result from interaction of:
| Biological | Psychological | Social |
|---|---|---|
| Genetics | Trauma | Stress |
| Brain chemistry | Learned fear | Family conflict |
| Neurotransmitters | Negative thinking | Social pressure |
Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
1. Psychological Treatments
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Most effective treatment.
Focuses on:
- Changing irrational thoughts
- Reducing avoidance
Exposure Therapy
Gradual exposure to feared situations.
Helps reduce fear naturally.
Example
Dog-phobic person slowly exposed to dogs safely.
2. Relaxation Techniques
- Deep breathing
- Meditation
- Progressive muscle relaxation
3. Medications
Used for severe anxiety.
Examples:
- Anti-anxiety drugs
- Antidepressants