ANXIETY

Anxiety

Anxiety

Introduction

Anxiety is a state characterized by an increase in the powers of perception to the body's physiological need to increase the level of a component that it now is below the appropriate level Or, on the contrary, fear of losing a precious asset. Anxiety is a very important function related to survival, along with fear, anger, sadness or happiness. Currently it is estimated that 20.5% or more of the world population suffers from an anxiety disorder, usually without knowing it. (Rachman, 1976)

Anxiety is a natural adaptive mechanism that permits us alert to events involved. In fact, some degree of anxiety provides an appropriate component of caution in especially dangerous situations. A moderate anxiety can help us stay focused and meet the challenges ahead. Sometimes, however, the response system is overwhelmed anxiety and malfunctions. More specifically, the anxiety is disproportionate to the situation and even sometimes occurs in the absence of any obvious danger. (Barlow, 2002) The subject feels paralyzed by a feeling of helplessness and, in general, any deterioration of the psychosocial and physiological functioning. (Ohman and Mineka, 2001) It is said that when anxiety occurs at inappropriate times or is so intense and lasting that it interferes with normal activities of the person, then it is regarded as a disorder. (McNally, 1994)

Overview

Given an alert, the body begins to function the adrenergic system. For example, when the agency considers it necessary to feed, this system comes into operation and releases warning signs throughout the central nervous system. When it detects a source of food which requires physical activity, the mechanisms that trigger release adrenaline, and is forced around the body to provide power for achieving a much higher energy source which is investing to get and normalize the values that have triggered such a "yellow alert. “At such times the body, thanks to the adrenaline goes into a state of "red alert.” (Barlow, 2000) The dopaminergic system is also activated when the authority is going to lose a valuable asset. In this situation, the body goes into yellow alert to the possibility of the existence of a threat, which is not the same as when the threat becomes real, because in that case what is adrenaline is released. From this point of view, anxiety is considered a positive sign of health, which helps in everyday life, where a reaction to certain situations with their chain of events consecutively: yellow alert, red alert and achievement Objective. (Antony et al, 2001) If the chain is broken at some point and these situations occur frequently, then your body runs the risk of intoxication by dopamine or other catecholamines. These situations help the body to solve specific hazards or problems of everyday life. (McGlynn et al, 2006)

Pathological anxiety levels

In modern advanced societies, this innate characteristic of man has developed a pathology, and forms, in some cases, symptom pictures that constitute the so called anxiety disorder, which has negative and very unpleasant for sufferers. Among the anxiety disorders are phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, posttraumatic ...