Agoraphobia: Fear of public, or open, spaces; from the Greek "fear of the market-place. Sometimes occurs with panic disorder.

Anxiety: Sense of apprehension and fear, often marked by physical symptoms
(such as sweating, tension, and increased heart rate).

Anxiety Disorders: Group of serious yet treatable health problems affecting one in ten Americans believed to be caused by a combination of biological and environmental factors.

Behavior Therapy: Treatment used to help patients replace undesirable responses and behavior patterns with desirable ones

Cognitive Therapy: Treatment used to help patients appropriately change habitual forms of thinking which sabotage their functioning and inter-
personal relationships.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: A combination of the two preceding therapies.

Exposure Therapy: Treatment used to reduce patient's fear of object or situation through gradual exposure and desensitization.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Excessive or unrealistic worry that is unrelated to a diagnosed illness and which persists for six months or more.

Heart Pounding: Palpitations or abnormally rapid beating of the heart.
 


Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Persistent and recurring thoughts (obsessions) typically reflecting exaggerated anxiety or fears that have no basis in reality; habitual performance of a ritual or routine to help relieve anxiety (compulsions); obsessions can occur alone, but often are accompanied by compulsions which serve to relieve the anxiety; a powerlessness to stop in spite of sufferer's recognition that the repetitive thoughts and behaviors make
no sense.

Panic Disorder:  Episodes of immediate and intense anxiety at inappropriate times with no discernable cause; symptoms include palpitations, feelings of faint-
ness or "going crazy", choking, chest pains, and/or a sensation that
death is imminent; sometimes accompanied by agoraphobia; common
are fears of driving, going over bridges or into elevators, flying, and
going into public spaces such as malls and restaurants alone.


For a more complete glossary, refer to the ADAA brochure. (See Resources and Referrals)