Anxiety: An introduction

 Meaning-cum-Definition  

Meaning - “An intense feeling of worry or fear or feelings that produced due to frightening situation”

 

“The term anxiety is usually defined as a diffused, vague, very unpleasant feeling of fear and apprehension” NCERT.

 

“An emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure” (APA).

 

Introduction

          Anxiety in mild form and occasional is the integral part of stress response pattern of human beings. Anxiety is anticipation of future threat. The levels of anxiety that are distressing and interfere with day-to-day effective functioning indicate the presence of anxiety. It keeps the individual in a constant state of tension, worry and diffused uneasiness. It can range from being mild and transient to becoming severe and disruptive.

Life situations that can trigger anxiety

(i)       Impending examination or waiting for results

(ii)      Job interview

(iii)     लड़का या लड़की देखने जाना

(iv)     Results of medical test (Covid-19)

 

Causes of Anxiety

(i)       Genetics (Personality disposition).

(ii)      Changes in neurological or brain chemistry.

(iii)     Disruptive life events.

(iv)     Physical and emotional stress.

(v)      Traumatic event.

(vi)     Substance abuse.

(vii)    Stress.

(viii)   Other anxiety disorder.

(ix)     Depression.

(x)      Environmental stressors.

 

Psychological Symptoms

(i)       Panic attacks with constant state of fear.

(ii)      Feeling of severe physical problem or failure of an organ.

(iii)     Loss of control over psychological and physical self.

(iv)     Excessive worry and nervousness.

(v)      Worrying of being rejected.

(vi)     Escape ideation.

(vii)    Insomniac reaction.

(viii)   Phobic reactions (Irrational fear).

(ix)     Repeated thoughts or regular flashback of some uneventful past event.

(x)      Mental discomfort.

 

Behavioural Symptoms

(i)       Feeling of nervousness and excessive emotional expression.

(ii)      Marked variation in regular life.

(iii)     Experience of fear without any significant cause.

(iv)     Avoiding social gathering such as party or function.

(v)      Feeling of uneasiness in the event of being alone.

(vi)     Moving out of crowded places.

(vii)    Master of tendering excuses or procrastination.

(viii)   Hesitation in speaking with or in front of other peoples.

(ix)     Disproportionate response.

(x)      Uncontrollable obsessive thoughts, nightmares and ritualistic behaviors, such as repeated hand washing.

 

Physiological Symptoms

(i)       Pounding heart or palpitations.

(ii)      Mouth going dry and problem in swallowing.

(iii)     Excessive sweating.

(iv)     Feeling weak at the knees.

(v)      Stomach churning and feeling sick.

(vi)     Increased characteristics trembling of body limbs.

(vii)    Tingling and numbing sensation.

(viii)   Excessive muscular tension.

(ix)     Increased respiration rate.

(x)      Feeling light giddiness.

 

Salient Features of Anxiety

(i)       Anxiety is a psycho-physiological response.

(ii)      It is the apprehension of future events.

(iii)     Anxiety is a negative emotional state.

(iv)     Arousal is the by-product of anxiety.

(v)      A general state of nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worrying.

(vi)     More often it occurs without any real cause.

(vii)    The intensity of response is out of proportion with the magnitude of the problem real or imaginary.

 

Anxiety Type According to Intensity

(i)      Common or usual Anxiety – The anxiety symptoms i.e. uneasiness or nervousness due to normal life events such as exam, relationships, financial hardship, loss in business or agricultural produce etc. The symptoms are relatively for lesser duration and intensity. Clinically non-significant.

(ii)     Mild Anxiety – The feeling of nervousness and fear that have significant impact on daily life yet clinically non-significant. The borderline state that can trigger unusual response pattern from a usual event. The symptoms stay for longer duration with increased intensity than of common or usual anxiety.

(iii)    Severe Anxiety – The excessive feeling of worry and nervousness that requires clinical interventions.

 

Other Anxiety Types

(i)       Cognitive Anxiety – The experience of worry and apprehension in thought process and other cognitive components.

(ii)      Somatic Anxiety – The magnitude of physiological expression of worry and apprehension.

(iii)     State Anxiety – It reflects the psycho-physiological transient reactions pattern in response to an unpleasant situation.

(iv)     Cognitive State Anxiety – The magnitude and intensity of worry and negative thought process.

(v)      Somatic State Anxiety – The perception of even subtle changes in the physiological arousal.

(vi)     Trait Anxiety – The predisposition to experience anxiety. Personality type that are genetically predisposed or acquired the tendency to be anxious. It is an important characteristic of clients with anxiety disorders.

 

Classification of Anxiety

(i)      Reality Anxiety – It is the basic form of anxiety developing due to perception about the dangers and threats that may emanates from real life situations. In terms of Psychoanalysis the anxiety faced by Ego due to the external environment. For example, fear of LPG cylinder blast, fear of occurrence of road accident, being constantly attached by someone (Yaksha Yudhister Samvad).

(ii)     Moral Anxiety – This type of anxiety is based upon the ‘Feeling of guilt’. It occurs when an individual feels that his behaviour has violated his value system, moral code of conduct or not able to meet the social expectations. It is a kind of is unconscious fear that can arise on both occasions i.e. done something or not done any-thing. In Psychoanalysis terms it is a fear that superego might excessively interfere in an individual’s life leading to criticism and punishment. उमराव जान फिल्म के एक गाने जिसके बोल हैं यह क्या जगह है दोस्तों यह कौन सा दयार है में कवि शहरयार लिखते हैं की “तमाम उम्र का हिसाब मांगती है जिंदगी ये मेरा दिल कहे तो क्या, ये ख़ुद से शर्मसार है” । (Arjuna Krishna Samvad).

(iii)    Neurotic Anxiety – The fear that Id might override the role of ego and takes control of the individual’s behaviour. The fear of consequences arising due to expression of improper demands of Id. In other words, fear of disturbing the balance between Id and Superego. It may lead to punishment and social repulsion.

(iv)    Generalised Anxiety – It consists of prolonged, vague, unexplained and intense fears that are not attached to any particular object, event or phenomenon. In this condition the individual worries about the quality of their social and nonsocial performance and tends to overestimate the danger in situations. Uncontrolled generalized anxiety may lead to muscular pain, insomnia, trembling, and gastro intestinal problems.

 

References:

1.       Coleman, C. J. (1988). Abnormal psychology and modern life. Bombay, India: D. B. Taraporevala Sons & Co.

2.       Generalized anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder: description and reconceptualization. (1986). American Journal of Psychiatry, 143(1), 40–44. doi:10.1176/ajp.143.1.40

3.       NCERT. (XII). Psychology Book.

4.       DSM V Manual. Published by APA.

5.       Kaur, S.  & Singh, R. (2017). Role of different neurotransmitters in anxiety: a systemic review. IJPSR, 8 (2), 411-421.

 

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