Which level of anxiety is characterized by distorted perceptions and symptoms like hyperventilation and pupil dilation?

Study for the Barron/Elsevier CCRN Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Ensure success on your exam!

The level of anxiety characterized by distorted perceptions and symptoms such as hyperventilation and pupil dilation is panic. Panic attacks often present with intense feelings of dread or fear, which can lead to a range of physical symptoms including shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and hyperventilation, as well as changes in perception. During a panic episode, individuals may experience a sense of unreality or detachment from their surroundings, which contributes to the distorted perceptions associated with this level of anxiety.

Other levels of anxiety, such as moderate, severe, and mild anxiety, do not typically present with the same intensity of symptoms or degree of perception distortion as seen in panic attacks. For instance, moderate anxiety may involve some physical symptoms and heightened alertness but does not reach the extreme physiological responses or perceptual disturbances characteristic of panic.

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