What it means
A group of disorders that includes generalized anxiety disorderJEN-er-uh-lyzd ang-ZY-uh-tee dis-OR-derAn anxiety disorder in which a person feels excessive, hard-to-control worry about many everyday things for at least six months.Full entry , panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and specific phobias. The fear or worry is out of proportion to the actual danger and lasts. They are the most common mental health conditions. Treatment includes talk therapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, and medicines such as SSRIs.
For the nurse
Stay calm and present, speak in short simple sentences during high anxiety, and teach breathing and relaxation skills when the client is calmer.
At a glance
| Spanish | trastorno de ansiedad |
|---|---|
| Also written | anxiety disorders, anxiety-disorders, anxiety-disorder |
Related terms
post-traumatic stress disorder
A mental health condition that develops after a person lives through or sees a terrifying event.
obsessive-compulsive disorder
A mental health condition with unwanted thoughts that keep coming back and actions a person feels driven to repeat.
generalized anxiety disorder
An anxiety disorder in which a person feels excessive, hard-to-control worry about many everyday things for at least six months.
anxiety
A feeling of worry, fear or unease about something that may happen, often with physical signs such as a racing heart.