Terms in this set (5)

The unconditioned stimulus is one that unconditionally, naturally, and automatically triggers a response. 4 For example, when you smell one of your favorite foods, you may immediately feel very hungry. In this example, the smell of the food is the unconditioned stimulus.

In the vocabulary of classical conditioning, the neutral stimulus or context is the “conditional stimulus” (CS), the aversive stimulus is the “unconditional stimulus” (US), and the fear is the “conditional response” (CR).

• Acquisition. The initial learning of the stimulus -response relationship. (
• Extinction. Diminished responding that happens when the CS (tone) no longer occurs right before UCS (food)
• Spontaneous recovery.
• Generalization.
• Discrimination.

In fear-conditioning paradigms, a meaningless stimulus (tone or light) is paired with an electric footshock. After one or several pairings, the tone or light becomes the conditioned stimulus. The retention test takes place in the absence of the footshock, at defined times after training.

Fear is also partly imagined, and so it can arise in the absence of something scary. In fact, because our brains are so efficient, we begin to fear a range of stimuli that are not scary (conditioned fear) or not even present (anticipatory anxiety). We get scared because of what we imagine could happen.

Signs of Fear

• Increased heart rate.
• Faster breathing or shortness of breath.
• Butterflies or digestive changes.
• Sweating and chills.
• Trembling muscles.

Ten ways to fight your fears

1. Take time out. It’s impossible to think clearly when you’re flooded with fear or anxiety.
2. Breathe through panic. If you start to get a faster heartbeat or sweating palms, the best thing is not to fight it.
3. Face your fears.
4. Imagine the worst.
5. Look at the evidence.
6. Don’t try to be perfect.
7. Visualise a happy place.
8. Talk about it.

An anxiety attack is a feeling of overwhelming apprehension, worry, distress, or fear. For many people, an anxiety attack builds slowly. It may worsen as a stressful event approaches.

Tips to Work Through Your Fear and Live Your Life

1. Allow yourself to sit with your fear for 2-3 minutes at a time.
2. Write down the things you are grateful for.
3. Remind yourself that your anxiety is a storehouse of wisdom.
4. Exercise.
5. Use humor to deflate your worst fears.
6. Appreciate your courage.

This includes the three basic types of fear: primal, irrational, and rational.

Facing the Two Types of Fears

• Innate Fears. The first type of fears are universal, innate fears.
• Identity Fears. The second set of fears have also developed with us as we have evolved.
• Love and Connection Fears. The final class of fears are those related to love and connection.
• Stop Fear From Holding You Back.

So if you’re experiencing unexplained aches and pains, it might be linked to your mental health. According to Carla Manley, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author, people with mental illnesses can experience a range of physical symptoms, such as muscle tension, pain, headaches, insomnia, and feelings of restlessness.

Anxiety can be caused by a variety of things: stress, genetics, brain chemistry, traumatic events, or environmental factors. Symptoms can be reduced with anti-anxiety medication. But even with medication, people may still experience some anxiety or even panic attacks.

Anxiety triggers

• Health issues. A health diagnosis that’s upsetting or difficult, such as cancer or a chronic illness, may trigger anxiety or make it worse.
• Medications.
• Caffeine.
• Skipping meals.
• Negative thinking.
• Financial concerns.
• Parties or social events.
• Conflict.

Processed Foods If you eat lots of processed meat, fried food, refined cereals, candy, pastries, and high-fat dairy products, you’re more likely to be anxious and depressed. A diet full of whole fiber-rich grains, fruits, vegetables, and fish can help keep you on a more even keel.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins, which help calm the nervous system. PMS: The vitamin B6 that bananas contain regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Oranges. You may think of vitamin C when you think of these citrus fruits, and that’s a big reason it might help your anxiety. Some studies have shown that a diet rich in it may help calm you and put you in a better frame of mind.

Foods naturally rich in magnesium may, therefore, help a person to feel calmer. Examples include leafy greens, such as spinach and Swiss chard. Other sources include legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Foods rich in zincsuch as oysters, cashews, liver, beef, and egg yolks have been linked to lowered anxiety.