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Panic attack

Arguably the most extreme manifestation of acute anxiety, a panic attack is an episode of sudden apprehension and intense fear, combined with physiological symptoms that closely resemble a heart attack.
A panic attack is the most frightening experience one can ever experience; I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
by Doc_B April 14, 2015
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Anxiety disorder

A type of mental illness in which anxiety is the main feature. Examples include panic disorder, specific phobias, agorophobia, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and social anxiety disorder.
He has an anxiety disorder.
by Doc_B April 14, 2015
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Reticent

Used as a descriptive term for someone who takes a moment to warm up in social situations they don’t really want to be in in the first place and prefers not to be spoken to, unless they’re extremely familiar with you.
John: ‘Megan was just sipping Bacardi juice at the back of the room all by herself at that party on Saturday night. She seemed to get on with Amber but she didn’t even utilise the opportunity to cling to that one voluntarily-imposing buddy all night. What on Earth’s wrong with her?’

Chizoba: ‘there’s nothing wrong with her; she’s just the reticent type. Some people are like that, enjoy their own company. She might not walk around glad-handing every new face that she doesn’t technically-need to interact with but once you get to know her and break past her reticence you’ll see that she’s actually a really nice gal. Some people need less social stimulation (outside their tight-knit circles, and even then there might well be limits) than others and that’s absolutely fine. All 7 billion of us can’t be exactly the same and have precisely the same wants and needs. People are different. You’ll realise that as you socially-mature.
by Doc_B August 15, 2022
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Neurosis

A mild form of mental illness, in which subjective experiences of emotional distress are common but contact with reality has not been lost. Examples include anxiety disorders, depression and eating disorders. It is also called psychoneurosis.
Neurosis can in many ways be distinguished from the more severe psychotic mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and manic depression (bipolar).
by Doc_B April 14, 2015
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Insomnia

A common health problem characterised by difficulty in either falling or staying asleep. It can occur on its own (primary) or as a result of another medical disorder, such as depression (secondary).
Insomnia can be debilitating.
by Doc_B April 16, 2015
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Mood disorder

A mood or affective disorder is a major type of mental illness in which emotions are significantly disturbed. Examples include clinical depression and the more severe bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is a severe mood disorder that in its most extreme form has much more in common with schizophrenia than depression.
by Doc_B April 14, 2015
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Schizoaffective disorder

A severe and relatively rare form of mental illness in which a significant mood disorder (depression or bipolar disorder) is interspersed with periods of chronic psychosis even when the person's mood is normal. Less than 0.5% of the population are said to have this condition.
by Doc_B April 14, 2015
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