What's normal anxiety -- and what's an anxiety disorder? | Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter

Important Vocabulary Words From The Video

hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is a part of the brain that is responsible for controlling our basic emotions. It is also responsible for controlling our sense of hunger and thirst.

  • The hypothalamus is responsible for the fight or flight response.
  • The hypothalamus is responsible for the autonomic nervous system.
alertness

When you are alert, you are aware and ready to react in a hurry. You are on your guard, and you are ready to fight or run if necessary.

  • He always seems to be alert, even in the middle of the night.
  • Being alert is important because you never know when the danger will come.
prefrontal

The prefrontal cortex is located in the front of the brain. It is responsible for a lot of your cognitive abilities, such as decision making, planning, and problem solving.

  • The prefrontal cortex is responsible for the decision to fire the employee.
  • The prefrontal cortex is responsible for the plan to rob the bank.
disrupts

Disrupting something is causing it to stop working or to cause a problem. If you disrupt the peace at a protest, you're causing a lot of anger and frustration.

  • The disruption was disrupting the process.
  • The disruption was causing a lot of problems.
agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a fear of open spaces or crowds. Someone with agoraphobia might find it difficult to leave their house, or they might avoid crowded areas.

  • He has agoraphobia and can't go outside.
  • She has agoraphobia and can't go near crowds.
reorganize

To reorganize is to change the way something is organized. You might reorganize your closet, your office, or your house.

  • He is reorganizing his office, which is why it's so messy.
  • The company is reorganizing its entire business, which is why it's taking so long.
tensing

Tensing is a type of physical exercise that is used to improve your strength and flexibility. When you tense your muscles, you are able to hold your body in a particular position for a longer period of time.

  • The students were tense as they waited for the results.
  • The muscles in her arms were tensed as she held the baby.
tamp

To tamp something is to press it down gently so that it doesn't move or become inflated. Tampers are used to compress things like paper and cloth.

  • The police are using tampers to keep the protesters from getting too close.
  • The cloth was compressed with the tampers, so it would not lose its shape.