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Respond to classmates in a minimum of 175 words each person, post must be substantive responses: 

DB

Anxiety disorders are indeed the most prevalent mental illness. This is not very clearly visible in people but it is present in a lot of people around the globe. 

The developmental theories say that anxiety can grow in a person as he grows old. A person can slowly become anxious over time. For example, a child can develop worrisome behavior in childhood. He can become more anxious if things do not go according to how he expects them to be in life. This is the way a mental issue is developed in a person.

The cognitive theory says that a person can overestimate the consequence of a situation in his mind. Patients with anxiety disorder can turn any small situation into a big anxiety - triggering a situation by imagining the worst-case scenario. They can start to avoid situations that look dangerous to them. It can be a crowd or market for example.

I think the cognitive theory has the most validity as it shows us the thinking pattern of a person and tries to change it to treat his anxiety.

The most effective treatment for anxiety disorders is Cognitive-behavioral therapy. This is the therapy that tries to change the thought pattern of a person and then affect his behavior. It addresses all the negative patterns of thinking and distortions in the way a person perceives the world.

TW

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental health conditions. Although they are less visible than schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder, they can be just as disabling. 

What are some of the differences between developmental theories of anxiety and cognitive theories?

Developmental theory of anxiety supports that genetic predisposition, psychological, cultural, and social contributors to anxiety. Cognitive theory of anxiety explains that there is a tendency to overestimate danger, potential for or threat of danger. The worst-case scenario is imagined and things, situations or people, that are perceived as dangerous, are avoided.

The biggest difference is one has happened, and one may potentially happen. 

Based on that understanding, I believe that the developmental theory is the most valid. However, I believe both theories contribute to understanding anxiety, but my comprehension is a more linear or logical, to me. I believe the developmental theory makes the most sense because as a person is born, and they grow and develop they are in the environment in which they are raised, the community in which they live, and most of their experiences or exposures happen within that environment. A fear may stem from a movie, a traumatic event, a story they heard, an accident they saw or from abuse or neglect (being hit, yelled out or deprived nurturing). Any of the following may have happened within their social settings.  That would contribute to the perception that they may have such as a threat of fear or potential danger which is part of the cognitive theory.

According to the text, and other articles, the most effective treatment of anxiety related disorders is psychotherapy, mainly CBT and medication. SSRI’s were the top of the list.

Ingersoll, R. E. & Rak, C. F. (2016). Psychopharmacology for mental health

professionals: An integrative approach (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning. 

https://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/0501/p617.html