Panic
Panang is a term used in psychology. He describes the chronic free-floating and diffuse fear that often shows up in borderline personality disorder . It is assumed that diffuse (not clearly delimited) fears that do not relate to special situations or objects ( phobias ) tend to occur in disorders that have a lower structural level .
The term panangst was used by Hoch and his colleagues in 1949 as one of the three main characteristics of a borderline disorder. These three characteristics were: breakdown, panic fear, pansexuality .
Panic
According to Hoch and Polatin, panic anxiety is such that the fears are generalized in such a way that almost everything that happens to the patient in his or her life influences these fears:
“From the diagnostician's point of view, the most important symptom present is what the authors call pananxiety and panneurosis. In contrast to the usual neurotics, many of these patients show an all-pervasive fear structure that does not leave any part of the person's life free of tension. Virtually every patient experience affects this fear. It is a polymorphic fear in the following sense: No matter how someone expresses themselves or distracts from a topic, to break through the conflict situation or to try to avoid it, the fear always arises. All of these attempts - express yourself, distract yourself, break through the conflict or avoid it - occur, mostly at the same time. "
"From the diagnostic point of view the most important presenting symptom is what the writers call pan-anxiety and pan-neurosis. Many of these patients show, in contrast to the usual neurotic, an all-pervading anxiety structure which does not leave any lifeapproach of the person free from tension. Practically everything that the patient experiences influences this anxiety. It is a polymorphous anxiety in the sense that no matter how a person tries to express himself or to side-track an issue, to break through the conflict or to avoid it; anxiety is always manifested. All these attempts to express, side-track, break through or avoid, are present, usually simultaneously. "
Breakdown
According to Hoch and Polatin, various neurotic symptoms are present at the same time in breakdowns:
“In connection with this diffuse fear, there is also a breakdown. Usually the affected patients do not have one or two different neuroses, but often all the symptoms that are known from neurotic diseases occur at the same time. The patients suffer from tension and many conversion symptoms that are related to fears: severe hysterical or often vegetative disorders such as sleep problems, loss of appetite, vomiting and heart flutter. At the same time, they show phobias similar to those observed in hysterical anxiety disorders, such as the fear of being killed, the fear of open spaces or closed rooms, or the fear of subway journeys. In addition to these phobias, there are often other compulsive mechanisms. The patient is dominated by these neurotic symptoms, which change continuously but never completely go away. Furthermore, the majority of patients also suffer from depression or a so-called anhedonic state, in which the patient does not enjoy anything. He tries to force pleasant experiences, but he is unsuccessful. "
"In connection with this diffuse anxiety, a pan-neurosis is also present. The patients usually do not have one or two different neurotic manifestations, but all symptoms known in neurotic illness are often present at the same time. These patients have tensions and many conversion symptoms in connection with anxiety; gross hysterical, or often vegetative manifestations like poor sleep, anorexia, vomiting and palpitation; and at the same time they will express phobias similar to those observed in anxiety hysteria, such as fear of being killed or being in open or closed places, or riding in subways. These phobias are often combined with other obsessive-compulsive mechanisms. The patient is dominated by these neurotic manifestations which constantly shift, but are never completely absent. In a good many patients, in addition, depression is present, or a so-called anhedonic state, in which the patient does not deri: ve any pleasure from anything. He tries, at the same time, to force pleasurable experiences but without success. "