Dealing with anxiety and related disorders : understanding, coping, and prevention

Nydegger, Rudy V. 1943- (Author).

Summary: Every year, nearly one in five Americans—some 40 million men and women—must cope with an anxiety disorder, be it general, persistent anxiety (GAD); social phobia; obsessive-compulsive disorder; or life-altering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet, the sad fact is that the very large majority of these people will never get the help that is available. This thorough discussion and analysis of anxiety and related disorders looks at case studies, specific diagnostic categories, and treatments. Anxiety disorders are the most common and frequently misdiagnosed and undertreated of all mental health conditions. Dealing with Anxiety and Related Disorders: Understanding, Coping, and Prevention explains in accessible language the myths, misunderstandings, and realities of anxiety disorders, including often misdiagnosed somatoform and dissociative disorders. Psychologist, Rudy Nydegger approaches anxiety and related disorders, including panic disorder, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and PTSD, with the most up-to-date and professionally sound information available. The history of and theories about anxiety disorders are thoroughly discussed, as are the most recent ideas and findings. Readers are provided with comprehensive information on each disorder—its description, clinical symptoms, dynamics, and available treatments, including alternative and experimental approaches. Ways in which patients can get help and help themselves are discussed, as are steps family members and friends can take when they know a loved one is struggling with an anxiety disorder. Detailed case studies illustrate both the disorders and the options for treatment. Every year, nearly one in five Americans—some 40 million men and women—must cope with an anxiety disorder, be it general, persistent anxiety (GAD); social phobia; obsessive-compulsive disorder; or life-altering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yet, the sad fact is that the very large majority of these people will never get the help that is available.

Record details

ISBN: 9780313384226 (hardback)
ISBN: 0313384223 (hardback)
ISBN: 9780313384233 (ebook)
ISBN: 0313384231 (ebook)
Physical Description: print
xiv, 230 p. ; 23 cm.
Publisher: Santa Barbara, Calif. : Praeger, c2012.

Content descriptions

General Note:	New November 2013.
Bibliography, etc. Note:	Includes bibliographical references and index.
Formatted Contents Note:	What is anxiety? -- The age of anxiety -- Diagnosing anxiety disorders -- Diagnostic and statistical manual -- Multiaxial diagnoses -- Myths about anxiety -- People who suffer from anxiety disorder -- Living with anxiety disorders -- Case 1: Betsy -- Case 2: Dan -- Case 3: Cheri -- The distribution and effects of anxiety disorders: Costs, gender, age, and specific groups -- Gender and anxiety disorders -- Women and anxiety -- Men and anxiety -- Age and anxiety -- Children and teens and anxiety -- Diagnosing and treating children and teens -- Anxiety disorders in the elderly -- Treatment of anxiety in the elderly -- Race, ethnicity, and anxiety disorders -- African Americans and anxiety -- Asian Americans and anxiety -- Hispanic Americans and anxiety -- Native Americans and Alaskan Natives and anxiety -- Homosexual groups and anxiety -- Religious groups and activity -- Theories of anxiety disorders -- Biological theories -- Psychological theories -- Psychodynamic approaches -- Humanistic and existential approaches -- Behavioral approaches -- Cognitive approaches -- Integrating the different theories -- Who is vulnerable? -- Physical responses and types of anxiety disorders 1: Generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder -- Physical responses to stress and anxiety -- Responses of the brain -- Responses by the heart, lungs, and circulatory system -- Responses by the immune system -- Responses in the mouth and throat -- Skin responses -- Metabolic responses -- Physical responses when stress or anxiety disappears or when it continues -- Other sources of anxiety-like symptoms -- Type of anxiety disorders 1 -- Generalized anxiety disorder -- Panic disorder -- Type of anxiety disorder 2: Phobias, posttraumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder -- Phobias -- Specific phobias -- Social phobia -- Posttraumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder -- Obsessive-compulsive disorder -- Treatments for anxiety disorder -- Medical treatments for anxiety disorders -- Antidepressant medications -- Antianxiety (Anxiolytic) medications -- Additional medications and natural substances -- Pregnancy and medications -- Other medical forms of treatment -- Psychological treatments of anxiety disorders -- Other psychosocial treatment approaches -- Treatment methods for specific anxiety disorders and patient groups -- Panic disorder -- Generalized anxiety disorder -- Social anxiety disorder -- Specific phobia -- Obsessive-compulsive disorder -- Posttraumatic stress disorder -- Other considerations in treating anxiety disorders -- Living with anxiety disorders -- Who needs treatment? -- Where to seek treatment -- Types of mental health professionals -- Is treatment working, and when is it completed? -- What patients can do to help themselves: Stress management -- Somatoform disorders -- Malingering and factitious disorders -- Hypochondriasis -- Somatization disorder -- Conversion disorder -- Pain disorder -- Body dysmorphic disorder -- Other types of somatoform disorders -- Dissociative disorders -- Background and history -- Dissociative disorders in general -- Depersonalization disorder -- Dissociative amnesia -- Dissociative fugue disorder -- Dissociative trance disorder -- Dissociative identity disorder -- Treatments for dissociative disorders -- Making sense of it all -- Changing conceptions of anxiety and related disorders -- Coping with anxiety and related disorders -- Being a positive voice for good mental health -- Making a difference -- Resources -- References -- Index.