Failure Expectation Syndrome

Currently, the syndrome of anxious expectation is one of the most common diseases. It is caused by various neuropsychiatric disorders that arise in the process of confronting everyday stressful situations. The main reason is the long-term impact of a certain irritant that undermines the psycho-emotional state of a person.

The state of the nervous system during a period of psychological trauma (as well as its innate properties) plays an important role in the initial stages of development and subsequent progression of the disease.

Epidemiology

People of almost all age categories are predisposed to the failure expectation syndrome. Both men and women suffer equally. The high incidence rate among children should be especially noted.

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Causes failure expectation syndrome

The syndrome of anxious expectation is caused by a factor when a person, due to an obsessive idea of expecting a complete failure in a particular matter, is simply unable to perform elementary actions. As a result, fears develop into a panic fear of the impossibility of performing everyday functions. The patient finds himself in a situation of a "vicious circle". Therefore, the syndrome of anxious expectation cannot be defined as an independent disease. In this case, this syndrome is considered a special form of obsessive-compulsive disorder. In cases where dysfunctions of the body are caused by the consequences of infections, injuries, intoxications, they become the starting point in the development of the disease. In the future, even the thought of the upcoming action frightens a person.

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Risk factors

The high-risk group includes people with an anxious, suspicious and fearful character. The following reasons serve as the starting impetus for the onset of the disease:

• systematic lack of sleep, which leads to disruption of the sleep structure;
• cerebrovascular diseases;
• harmful effects on the body, including intoxication;
• traumatic factors;
• constant violations of the diet.

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Symptoms failure expectation syndrome

As mentioned above, the syndrome of anxious expectation is characterized by the psycho-emotional state of the patient, in which he is afraid of performing some quite ordinary everyday actions. For example: reading, talking, sleeping, walking, having sex, etc.

Let's take reading. A patient with a history of cerebrovascular disease or head trauma may develop visual impairment as a result of long-term and rapid text reading (myopia).

The first signs of myopia are the appearance of a grid or fog before the eyes, photophobia, headache. There are also signs of instability of the vegetative system (heart palpitations, fever, general weakness).

As for the act of walking, an example here is patients suffering from cerebrovascular diseases during the rehabilitation period after a lower limb injury. One of the first signs is a sudden fall caused by dizziness. As a result, a syndrome of anxious expectation arises at the thought of repeating an unsuccessful attempt. This leads to functional disorders of the walking processes (gait disturbance, awkwardness in movements, stiffness, etc.).

In most cases, inhibition of the speech apparatus is associated with public speaking. At the first failure, anxiety and fear of having to repeat the action arise. In this case, the symptoms of anxious anticipation are manifested by the lability of the autonomic nervous system - increased heart rate, a feeling of confusion, sweating, fever, stuttering.

Sleep disorders occur when an anxious state appears in anticipation of insomnia. In the initial stage, this process is caused by the manifestation of insomnia due to strong emotional shocks (fear, joy, grief).

Sexual Failure Anxiety Syndrome

The syndrome of anxious anticipation of sexual failure (SASF) is characterized by the emergence of an obsessive feeling of anxiety and fear before the upcoming sexual intimacy. At the same time, the anxious feelings are so strong that they completely suppress sexual arousal. Most often, patients with this syndrome complain of erectile dysfunction. Some of them believe that their failures in sexual intimacy are associated with mental or sexual disorders. Some think that the reason lies in communication difficulties with women. Some are sure that the consequence of the occurring disorders is a small penis size, resulting in a feeling of self-doubt.

Of course, the factors listed above can form a syndrome of anxious expectation of sexual failure, but the main reason is the psychological aspect. Everything depends on the right attitudes. As a result of incorrectly set attitudes towards sexual intimacy, a man is in a stressful state, he does not feel relaxed. As a result, there is an anxious expectation of an upcoming exam, the purpose of which is either to test oneself (androcentric option), or to surprise a partner with one's sexual abilities (feminocentric option). And the more thoughts arise about this, the less ability remains to carry out the process.

An important reason for the development of the syndrome of anxious expectation of sexual failure is the correct choice of a sexual partner. Sometimes a woman may not be entirely loyal to a man - show antipathy, ridicule or be rude. In these cases, the man receives deep psychological trauma, which leads to anxious expectation of subsequent negative experiences. Such experiments end with a severe disorder of the vegetative system - during the next attempt at sexual intercourse, there are sensations of rapid heartbeat, sweaty hands and lack of air.

Pregnancy Anxiety Syndrome

It is known that during pregnancy, a woman's body undergoes significant physiological changes. Restructuring of the central nervous system, increased physiological and emotional fatigue, weakening of the body - all these factors cause a feeling of anxiety. In other words, a pregnant woman initially falls into a risk group predisposed to the development of anxious expectation syndrome.

Now let's get acquainted with the main fears that the expectant mother experiences.

• Spontaneous, unplanned pregnancy. In this case, there is a fear of possible postpartum consequences related to the health of the child (how many cigarettes were smoked and alcohol was drunk, what medications were taken, etc.).
• Fear of possible complications during pregnancy.
• Fear of the birth process itself.
• Concern about the genetic integrity of the newborn.
• Aesthetic fear. A woman subconsciously worries about the changes that occur with her figure and face.
• Fear of responsibility. No one can worry about the fate of a child more than a mother.
• Fear of the future. Now everything will change and will never be the same.

In principle, there is nothing to worry about when certain fears arise. The natural physiological and emotional defenses aimed at adapting the body to new circumstances have worked. But in the case when anxiety develops into a feeling of panicky, uncontrollable fear, the consequence of which is pronounced latency of the autonomic nervous system, it is necessary to consult a specialist. Otherwise, complications are possible - an acquired feeling of complete hopelessness, which leads to the development of prolonged depression.

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Diagnostics failure expectation syndrome

The diagnosis of anxious expectation syndrome is based on the patient's complaints. But on the other hand, there is a need for a full examination to exclude somatic causes of the disease.

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Differential diagnosis

Successful differential diagnosis depends on a complete, trusting understanding between the doctor and the patient, since the diagnosis is still based on questioning the patient.

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Treatment failure expectation syndrome

Complex therapy consists of psychotherapeutic measures. Suggestion plays an important role (both in reality and in a state of hypnotic sleep). Autogenic training gives very good results. Physiotherapeutic treatment helps to restore lost reflexes.

In parallel, drug therapy is connected, which consists of prescribing tranquilizers, antidepressants, adaptogens and vitamins.

Warning: medications are prescribed only by a doctor!

Tranquilizers are a group of psychopharmacological agents aimed at relieving emotional stress, anxiety and fear. They are characterized by anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant effects. They effectively act to restore the autonomic nervous system.

• Chlordiazepoxide (elenium, librium) – has a pronounced muscle relaxant and anti-anxiety effect. Relieves emotional stress. The dosage is from 30 to 50 mg/day. It is taken orally.
• Oxylidine – has antihypertension and sedative properties. Improves blood circulation in brain cells, enhances the effect of sleeping pills. Take 0.02 mg 3-4 times a day. The course of treatment is from 1 to 2 months.

Side effects of tranquilizers include impaired concentration, muscle weakness, drowsiness, and slower mental reactions. Disruptions to the autonomic nervous system (urinary incontinence, constipation, hypotension, and decreased libido) are possible. If these symptoms occur, stop taking the medication. Long-term use of tranquilizers is not recommended to avoid addiction.

Antidepressants are a group of drugs designed to combat depressive states. They relieve feelings of anxiety, fear, and melancholy. They remove emotional tension, normalize appetite and sleep.

• Amitriptyline - has good tolerability and bioavailability. The drug is available both in tablet form and as an injection solution (for particularly severe cases). It is taken orally after meals. The initial dosage is from 25 to 70 mg / day with a gradual increase until the signs of depression subside. Then the dose is reduced to 50-100 mg per day. For the result to be stable, the tablets must be taken for a long time - several months.

Side effects include dizziness and drowsiness, dilated pupils and blurred vision, urinary retention, dry mouth,

Contraindications: prostate adenoma, increased intraocular pressure, severe cardiovascular conduction disorders.

• Bupropion (Zyban) – differs from other antidepressants by the absence of side effects on the sexual function of the body. Dosage: the first 7 days, 150 mg once a day, then 150 mg 2 times a day. It is recommended to take for several weeks.

Side effects include dry mouth, dizziness and loss of coordination, tremors in the limbs, abdominal pain and intestinal upset, skin rashes and itching.

Contraindications – chronic kidney and liver diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes. Contraindicated for persons under 18 and over 60 years of age.

It is necessary to pay attention to the peculiarities of treatment of pregnant women, as medicinal products are not desirable for them. In this case, it is better to focus on herbal treatment.

• Valerian – has a soft sedative and hypnotic effect. Stops anxiety states of mental and somatic (vegetative) origin. Improves the quality and duration of sleep. An important aspect is the absence of side effects (except allergic reactions).
• Peppermint – has a moderate sedative, antispasmodic and choleretic effect.
• Lemon balm - is characterized by its focus on increasing concentration, the immunological state of the body, and also has an antioxidant effect.

Affordable folk recipes for treating the syndrome of anxious anticipation of failure

• Recipe #1. An infusion of barberry root or bark will help calm the nervous system. Preparation: pour 1 cup of boiling water over 30g of raw material. Boil over low heat for about 15 minutes. Let it sit. Take the finished infusion 1 tbsp. 3 times a day.
• Recipe #2. Grind young spring birch leaves (100g) and pour warm boiled water (2 cups). Infuse for 5-6 hours. Strain. Drink 0.5 cups of infusion 3 times a day half an hour before meals.
• Recipe #3. Grind 3 tablespoons of viburnum berries into a pulp. Add 700 ml of boiling water. Leave for 4 hours. Strain through cheesecloth or a fine sieve. Take the decoction 4 times a day before meals. A full diet should be present.

Homeopathic remedies

Aspen is intended for people who experience unexplained anxieties and fears.

Prevention

Adaptogens and vitamins are used for the prevention of anxiety expectation syndrome.

Antidepressants are drugs aimed at effective adaptation of the body to various negative environmental factors. They are distinguished by the ability to combine well with other drugs. Today, adaptogens of plant origin are very popular. The most common of them are:

• Eleutherococcus;
• Chinese magnolia vine;
• ginseng;
• aralia;

It is recommended to use once a day (in the morning, before the start of the working day).

Contraindications for use - high blood pressure (hypertension), myocardial infarction, acute infectious diseases, fever. It should be noted that adaptogens accelerate the processes of puberty, so the prescription of drugs to children under 16 years of age should be approached with caution.

Vitamins are the basis necessary for the full vitality of the body.

• Vitamin A retinol, beta-carotene, retinal, retinoic acid. Vitamin A deficiency affects the quality of vision and the condition of the skin, and also causes disruption of the brain and heart activity. The required daily dose: for women - 700 mcg / day, for men - 900 mcg / day. With increased stress on the body (illness, pregnancy, old age), the dose should be increased. For a more stable and long-lasting result, vitamin A is used with vitamin E.
• Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) is most in demand in the health and beauty industry. It helps restore and nourish cells, improves the circulation of useful microelements to them. It removes decay products of once useful substances. It is very good as a means of eliminating pathologies during pregnancy. For men, it is the basis for high-quality sperm.
• Vitamin D – is produced in the body independently, due to the influence of sunlight. It helps the process of absorption of phosphorus and calcium salts in the intestine, thereby affecting the strengthening of bone tissues of the body.
• Vitamin C – has high antioxidant properties. It copes well with problems of immune functions (colds, infections, the influence of harmful substances in the environment). I would especially like to emphasize the role of vitamin C in the ability to produce anti-stress hormones.
• Vitamin B – belongs to the group of water-soluble vitamins. Therefore, it is recommended to take it every 8 hours. The most popular subgroups of vitamin B:
  • B1 – thiamine.
  • B2 – riboflavin.
  • B3 – nicotinic acid.
  • B6 – pyridoxine.
  • B12 – cyanocobalamin.

All B vitamins are responsible for the coordinated functioning of the human central nervous system.

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