A married woman, whose life was complicated by her mother's living in their home, complained that she felt tense and irritable most of the time. she was apprehensive for fear that something would happen to her mother, her husband, her children, or herself. she has no definite idea what it was that she fears might happen. she suffers from occasional attacks in which her heart pounds with irregular beats; she cannot seem to catch her breath when this happens. often she breaks out in a profuse perspiration. her mouth seems to be always dry, even though she drinks a great deal of water, and because of this and her diffuse anxiety she cannot sleep.