Key terms related to anxiety disorders, phobias, and evidence-based treatments.

Anxiety Disorder Terms

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) — Persistent, excessive worry about multiple areas of life (work, health, family) occurring more days than not for at least 6 months.

Health Anxiety (Illness Anxiety Disorder) — Preoccupation with having or acquiring a serious illness, despite minimal or no symptoms. Formerly called hypochondriasis.

Driving Anxiety — A specific phobia or situational anxiety related to driving, which may develop after an accident, stem from panic disorder, or arise without a clear trigger.

Test Anxiety — Performance-specific anxiety that occurs before or during academic tests. Distinguished from generalized anxiety by its situational trigger.

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) — Extreme emotional sensitivity triggered by perceived rejection or criticism. Common in ADHD and autism. Not a formal DSM-5 diagnosis.

Social Anxiety Disorder — Persistent fear of social situations where one might be scrutinized, judged, or embarrassed. Affects approximately 7% of the U.S. population.

Panic Disorder — Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks followed by persistent worry about having more attacks or behavioral changes to avoid them.

Phobia Terms

Specific Phobia — An excessive, irrational fear of a specific object or situation (e.g., vomiting, driving, heights). The fear is out of proportion to the actual danger.

Agoraphobia — Fear and avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable during a panic attack. Can develop as a complication of panic disorder.

Systematic Desensitization — A behavioral therapy technique pairing relaxation with gradual exposure to feared stimuli.

Flooding — An exposure therapy approach involving prolonged, intensive exposure to the most feared stimulus. More rapid but more distressing than gradual exposure.

Treatment Terms

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — Evidence-based psychotherapy combining cognitive restructuring (changing thought patterns) with behavioral techniques (exposure, activity scheduling).

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) — A CBT technique involving gradual exposure to feared stimuli while preventing avoidance or safety behaviors.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — A therapy focusing on accepting uncomfortable thoughts and feelings while committing to value-driven action.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) — A therapy originally for borderline personality disorder, now used for emotional regulation difficulties. Teaches mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills.

SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) — A class of antidepressants (sertraline, fluoxetine, escitalopram) commonly used as first-line medication for anxiety disorders.

Benzodiazepines — A class of anti-anxiety medications (lorazepam, clonazepam) that provide rapid relief but carry dependence risk. Not recommended for long-term use.

Interoceptive Exposure — Deliberately inducing physical sensations that resemble anxiety (rapid heartbeat, dizziness, nausea) to build tolerance and reduce fear of the sensations themselves.

Mindfulness — A practice of present-moment, non-judgmental awareness. Evidence-based component of anxiety treatment that helps break the cycle of worry and avoidance.