What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder and How do you treat It?
10 Jul 2020- It's normal to feel anxious from time to time, especially if your life is stressful. However, excessive, ongoing anxiety and worry that are difficult to control and interfere with day-to-day activities may be a sign of generalized anxiety disorder.
- People who have generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, worry uncontrollably about common occurrences and situations.
- This excessive, unrealistic worry can be frightening and can interfere with relationships and daily activities.
- One of the common psychiatric disorders in the world.
- Common Signs & Symptoms:
- Worry very much about everyday things
- Have trouble controlling their worries or feelings of nervousness
- Know that they worry much more than they should
- Feel restless and have trouble relaxing
- Have a hard time concentrating
- Be easily startled
- Have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
- Feel easily tired or tired all the time
- Have headaches, muscle aches, stomach aches, or unexplained pains
- Have a hard time swallowing
- Tremble or twitch
- Be irritable or feel “on edge”
- Sweat a lot, feel light-headed or out of breath
- Have to go to the bathroom a lot.
- Heightened episodes of anxiety are called Panic Attacks.
- Anxiety disorders can also raise your risk for other medical problems such as heart disease, diabetes, substance abuse, and depression.
- Common types are Social Anxiety, GAD, Panic Disorder, Phobic Disorders etc
- Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric disorders in children, with an estimated 1 in 3 suffering anxiety at some point during childhood or adolescence.
- What Caused This?
It is unlikely that a single factor causes an anxiety disorder. It is most likely caused by a combination of things such as genetics (i.e. family history of anxiety disorders), chemical or other changes in the brain, and/or environmental factors. Traumatic experiences can also add to the development of mental health disorders.
- Intensity: Mild to Severe. Leads to distress & psycho-social & occupational impairment and reduced quality of life.
- Treatment:
- Medications: Psychotropic… “Antianxiety Medications”
- Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)
- Usually, a combination approach including life style modifications is advised
- Remember: No two people are affected the same way by anxiety. There is no “one-size-fits-all” for treatment.
- Kindly meet your mental health professional at the earliest for appropriate management of your Anxiety and related conditions.
