An essential element in the diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is the presence of unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) which induce significant anxiety symptoms. The anxiety then prompts you to engage in repetitive, ritualistic behaviors (compulsions) which serve to reduce your anxiety over the short term. So the diagnosis of OCD requires the presence of both […]
What is the difference between agoraphobia and claustrophobia?
This is a frequently-asked question, the difference between agoraphobia and claustrophobia. Agoraphobia is the fear of being in places where you might have a panic attack or escape might be difficult. Some people with panic disorder go on to also develop agoraphobia. As agoraphobia progresses, you increasingly become home-bound, as you are fearful of places […]
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My boyfriend has sexual performance anxiety
More details to the question My boyfriend seems to have intimacy issues, and appears to have sexual performance anxiety. It is really ruining our relationship and makes me wonder if he only has performance anxiety with me or if he had it with other girls as well. He’s not able to get an erection, but […]
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What Are The Negative Effects Of Anxiety On The Body?
Anxiety can wreak havoc on the body. When you have anxiety and stress, it triggers the amygdala, which then triggers the fight or flight response. The fight or flight response is mediated by both the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis). Chronic anxiety and stress leads to long term activation of the […]
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What Is The Difference Between Hypervigilance And Paranoia?
Hypervigilance is when you are constantly on-guard for any danger in the environment. Being vigilant is when you are aware of your surroundings. But you become hypervigilant when you are on-guard constantly and with more intensity. You become so guarded that you are easily startled by loud noises. Traumatic events and having post traumatic stress […]
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Can You Develop A Fear Of Heights Through Classical Conditioning?
Yes, you can develop a fear of heights through classical conditioning. So the basic idea for classical conditioning is this: an unconditioned stimulus (US) naturally produces an unconditioned response (UR). But when you pair a US with a conditioned stimulus (CS), then this continues to produce the UR. After multiple pairings, the CS can be presented alone to […]
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Can Alcohol Help Stage Fright?
Initially, alcohol can help with stage fright, also known as performance anxiety, which is a type of social anxiety. The alcohol does tend to take the edge off, as it is effective at reducing anxiety in the short term. But this effect does not tend to last. The biggest problem with alcohol is that it […]
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Does Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Get Worse With Age And Does It Go Away?
To answer the first part of your question, OCD, or obsessive compulsive disorder, does not necessarily get worse with age, but it is an illness that lasts a long time. You can recover from OCD. But as time goes on, most people with OCD have a relapse- in other words, most people with OCD, once […]
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What Are The Long Term Effects Of Hypervigilance?
Hypervigilance is a hyperarousal symptom, seen in post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Hypervigilance is the constant scanning of your environment for any signs of danger, and you have increased alertness and are jumpy and easily startled. Hypervigilance and hyperarousal are triggered by the activation of the fight or flight response: When the fight or flight response […]
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What factors determine whether the body fights or flees from danger?
When you are faced with a danger or threat, the fight or flight response automatically kicks in, and you don’t have to think about it to set it off. So this is a quick reflex that occurs that bypasses the planning and awareness centers of the brain. Instead, the danger is picked up by the […]
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