Question

What is the key difference between episodic anxiety and an anxiety disorder in terms of their triggers and characteristics?

a) Episodic anxiety is non-specific, while an anxiety disorder has a specific start and end point.
b) Episodic anxiety is more severe than an anxiety disorder.
c) Anxiety is a normal reaction, while episodic anxiety is abnormal.
d) Anxiety has a specific start and end point, while episodic anxiety is triggered by a specific stressor.

Answer 1

Episodic anxiety is a temporary and specific response to a stressor, resolving after the stressor is gone. An anxiety disorder is more prolonged, with persistent excessive worry that affects daily life and can be triggered by specific or general factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

The key difference between episodic anxiety and an anxiety disorder lies in their triggers and duration. Episodic anxiety is a temporary reaction to a specific stressor and typically resolves once the stressor is no longer present. In contrast, an anxiety disorder is characterized by persistent, excessive worry and fear that continues for months at a time, affecting a person's daily functioning.

Conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and various phobias fall under the umbrella of anxiety disorders.

These disorders are more prolonged and can be triggered by either specific or nonspecific factors. The intensity of symptoms and the impairment they cause distinguish anxiety disorders from normal anxiety, which is a common response to stress and typically has a specific start and end point.