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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Sir, post it in hindi too, please!
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