Anxiety Disorders and Phobias

Anxiety Disorders

• Phobias involve fear related to a specific object or activity.
• Acrophobia: Fear of heights.
• Agoraphobia: Fear of open spaces.
• Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders.
• Algophobia: Fear of pain.
• Androphobia: Fear of men.
• Astraphobia: Fear of thunder and lightning.
• Autophobia: Fear of being alone.
• Bathaphobia: Fear of depth.
• Claustrophobia: Fear of enclosed spaces.
• Cynophobia: Fear of dogs or rabies.
• Demophobia: Fear of crowds.
• Dromophobia: Fear of crossing the street.
• Gatephobia: Fear of cats.
• Genophobia: Fear of sex.
• Gerophobia: Fear of aging.
• Gynophobia: Fear of women.
• Haptephobia: Fear of being touched.
• Hemophobia: Fear of blood.
• Hydrophobia: Fear of water.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves being trapped in patterns of repeated behaviors or thoughts.
• Panic Disorder involves fear or anxiety that impairs functioning.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) occurs after a traumatic event, causing severe and long-lasting after-effects like flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional numbness.
• Somatoform Disorders involve the belief in having a disease or its symptoms without any physical evidence, like hypochondria.

Affective Disorders

• Affective disorders are mood disorders often with an organic cause, relating to emotions and mood swings that interfere with daily life.
• Clinical Depression involves feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or despair lasting for more than a few weeks, causing trouble with concentration, sleep, and decision-making; it also tends to run in families.
• Bipolar Disorder is characterized by extreme mood swings between depression and happiness, often inherited, and sometimes called "Manic Depression."

Personality Disorders

• Personality disorders are a range of psychological conditions affecting a person's ability to get along with others.
• Antisocial Personality Disorder involves problems with society, including cruel, uncaring, irresponsible, and impulsive actions, disregard for others, and trouble with the law.
• Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder involves uncooperative behavior, resentment of being told what to do, and frequent expressions of anger.

Schizophrenia

• Schizophrenia involves a split mind, affecting 1-2% of society, with diagnoses typically between ages 15-35.
• Effects include withdrawal, hallucinations, hearing voices, and talking to oneself.

Suicide Risk Factors

• Suicide risk factors include depression, substance abuse, bullying, physical/mental/verbal/sexual abuse, firearms in the home, jail time, scenery/attitude change, violence, prior attempts, family history, and neglect.
• Showing concern for a suicidal individual is crucial, along with getting them professional help.
• Take all suicide threats seriously, listen actively, show empathy, and emphasize getting professional help.
• Let them know suicide is not the answer, express gratitude if they are an attempt survivor, and ask about a suicide plan.
• Do not leave them alone if there is an immediate threat, suggest speaking out, and never agree to keep their feelings a secret.

Multiple-Person Suicides

• Cluster Suicides involve a number of suicides occurring in a short amount of time.
• Joint Suicides often fail, leaving one or two dead and the survivor feeling extremely guilty.

Professional Help

• Principal health care providers include psychiatrists, neurologists, clinical psychologists, psychiatric social workers, and counselors.
• Psychiatrists use psychotherapy (ongoing dialogue to find the root of a problem and solutions), psychoanalysis (analysis of a patient's past), and medical psychotherapy (certain medications).
• Neurologists believe the problem is organic.
• Clinical Psychologists diagnose and treat mental issues through group or individual therapy, and tests, but cannot prescribe medications.
• Counselors have a master's degree and help with personal and educational matters.
• Social Workers do psychiatric casework and fieldwork in hospitals, mental health clinics, and family services.