Axia College Material

Appendix E

Disorders Worksheet

For each disorder, identify the major symptoms and characteristics. Feel free to refer to your readings. Be thorough and put the information into your own words as much as possible!

Anxiety Disorders | Major Symptoms/Characteristics     |

Generalized Anxiety Disorder |  Characterized by prolonged vague but intense fears that are not attached to anything in anyway. Major symptoms are unable to relax, fears not attached to any certain object or circumstance, constantly feels restless, muscle tension, rapid heartbeat, hyper vigilance (constant alertness to potential threats), and apprehensiveness about the future. |

Phobias |  Characterized by intense anxiety. Major symptoms are rapid heartbeat, trembling, sweating, fast breathing, muscular tensions, weakness, butterflies in stomach, nausea, breathlessness, and removing oneself from people, or feeling frozen. |

Panic Disorder  |  Characterized by recurrent panic attacks that are a sudden, unpredictable, and overwhelming experience of intense fear or terror without any reasonable cause. Usually lasts a few minutes, but comes back for no reason. Major symptoms are feelings of impending doom, chest pains, dizziness or fainting, sweating, difficulty breathing, and fear of losing control or dying. |

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder  |  Obsessions are involuntary thoughts or ideas that keep coming back despite the person’s attempts to stop them. Compulsions are repetitive, ritualistic behaviors that one feels compelled to do. Obsessive thoughts are often horrible and frightening nature. Major symptoms involving obsessions are fear of being contaminated by shaking hands or touching another person, doubts that you have done something such as lock a door, thoughts that you may have hurt someone, severe distress when things are not where they belong or facing in the right direction, images of hurting your child, dermatitis due to frequent washing of your...