Anxiety is a complex combination of negative emotions that includes fear, apprehension and worry, and is often accompanied by physical sensations such as palpitations, nausea, chest pain and/or shortness of breath.

Anxiety is often described as having cognitive, somatic, emotional, and behavioral components (Seligman, Walker & Rosenhan, 2001). The cognitive component entails expectation of a diffuse and uncertain danger. Somatically the body prepares the organism to deal with threat (known as an emergency reaction); blood pressure and heart rate are increased, sweating is increased, bloodflow to the major muscle groups is increased, and immune and digestive system functions are inhibited. Externally, somatic signs of anxiety may include pale skin, sweating, trembling, and pupillary dilation. Emotionally, anxiety causes a sense of dread or panic and physically causes nausea, and chills. Behaviorally, both voluntary and involuntary behaviors may arise directed at escaping or avoiding the source of anxiety. These behaviors are frequent and often maladaptive, being most extreme in anxiety disorders. However, anxiety is not always pathological or maladaptive: it is a common emotion along with fear, anger, sadness, and happiness, and it has a very important function in relation to survival.

Neural circuitry involving the amygdala and hippocampus is thought to underlie anxiety (Rosen & Schulkin, 1998). When confronted with unpleasant and potentially harmful stimuli such as foul odors or tastes, PET-scans show increased bloodflow in the amygdala (Zald & Pardo, 1997; Zald, Hagen & Pardo, 2002). In these studies, the participants also reported moderate anxiety. This might indicate that anxiety is a protective mechanism designed to prevent the organism from engaging in potentially harmful behaviors such as feeding on rotten food.

More on [ Anxiety ]

Anxiety - Twitter Search

Anxiety/heartburn/indigestion this is shit :|
ana_nemeruck (Anastasia Nemeruck) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:28:17 -0000
Anxiety/heartburn/indigestion this is shit :|
Anxiety issues suck.
Danicakezz (Lindsey Dunn) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:27:01 -0000
Anxiety issues suck.
@calebsdoodee I had an anxiety fit the other day thought my brain was floating some kind of cancerous jelly. Then, I took 3 paxil and slept.
lizcrawl (Eliabeth Frazier) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:26:38 -0000
@calebsdoodee I had an anxiety fit the other day thought my brain was floating some kind of cancerous jelly. Then, I took 3 paxil and slept.
So the apple store gave me a new phone, this brings new problems. Im having separation anxiety with all my texts from the past 10 months :(
colettecarman (Colette Carman) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:25:51 -0000
So the apple store gave me a new phone, this brings new problems. Im having separation anxiety with all my texts from the past 10 months :(
@SpeedinUptoStop If I mention the fact that I have an anxiety disorder, a lot of times I get "oh have you tried smoking pot?"
stisch (Sara) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:25:38 -0000
@SpeedinUptoStop If I mention the fact that I have an anxiety disorder, a lot of times I get "oh have you tried smoking pot?"
New article: Coming to Terms with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) http://bit.ly/4ASVah
healthehow (Health eHow) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:25:26 -0000
New article: Coming to Terms with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) http://bit.ly/4ASVah

Subscribe to Anxiety RSS feed