5 Clarifications On Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
Speak to your doctor If you're suffering from persistent anxiety symptoms. Everyone worries occasionally but if they are affecting your daily routine, or causing you to feel anxious, it is time to seek medical assistance. He or she may refer you to a mental specialist and conduct a test for GAD.
Many people suffering from GAD also find relief through psychotherapy and medications. Lifestyle adjustments and relaxation techniques can may also be helpful.
Tension and Stress
People suffering from GAD experience extreme and excessive anxiety and stress even when there is nothing to be concerned about. This can make it difficult to sleep and concentrate, and the feelings may linger for a long time or even for a lifetime. It's also common for people with GAD to suffer from other psychiatric disorders, like dysthymia or depression, a mild form of depression.
If you are having intense, persistent anxiety symptoms, it's important to talk to an expert in mental health. They will employ diagnostic criteria, standardized assessments and their clinical judgment to determine the diagnosis.
It's normal to feel stressed or anxious at times, but people suffering from GAD suffer from persistent and extreme anxiety and worry, which can impact their life and relationships. They worry about finances, family, work health, safety, and other things more than they should. Anxiety can make people avoid social situations and activities and can lead to loneliness and social isolation.
GAD symptoms can be treated with medication and psychotherapy. Antidepressants and medicines are used to treat anxiety-related symptoms. Several types are used. The first method of treatment is medication that falls into the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin norepinephrine-reuptake inhibition (SNRI) classes. Examples include escitalopram, duloxetine and Venlafaxine.
There are many types of psychotherapy that could be helpful for generalized anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a well-studied and effective treatment for anxiety, and it can help you learn new ways of thinking and behaving that help reduce anxiety and worries. Psychotherapy is generally a long-term treatment, and it is most effective when you have an experienced therapist in treating anxiety.
Social interaction can also aid in relieving anxiety symptoms, and you should try to find an aid system you can count on. It is helpful to have someone in person with whom you can talk about your anxiety, particularly if that person has had an experience of anxiety. Ask your doctor for suggestions for mental health professionals or a therapist if you aren't sure where to begin.
Physical Symptoms
GAD causes anxiety that persists even when there is very little or no reason to worry. It can affect children and adults, though it is more common in women. People with this disorder usually suffer physical symptoms, like tight muscles, sweating or shaking. Those with GAD can't control their thoughts and feelings and may feel as though they're losing control of their lives. This condition can also make them unable to relax and may interfere with their relationships. GAD can be treated using psychotherapy or medications.
It's normal to feel anxious from time to time, especially if life is stressful. If you experience these symptoms all the time and they interfere with your everyday life it is recommended to talk to an expert. The doctor will ask questions to ensure that there's nothing else causing them and may order an examination. Psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), has been proven to be effective for many people suffering from anxiety disorders , which includes GAD. This treatment teaches people about their anxiety and provides them with tools to manage it. It is usually a form of exposure therapy, in which patients face feared or avoided situations under the guidance of their therapists.
Medications can help relieve some physical symptoms of GAD that can be a problem, such as muscle tension and shaking. Depending on your needs, a psychiatrist or psychologist may prescribe antidepressants and other kinds of medication to help treat anxiety. Some people are worried about becoming dependent on prescription drugs, but these drugs don't cause addiction and can be used in conjunction with psychotherapy.
Exercise, which eases tension and boosts feel good chemicals in the brain, can also aid in reducing anxiety. Meditation is another technique that can help reduce anxiety and encourage a calm mind. It's been proven to decrease the blood pressure and heart rate related to stress.
Spending time with family and friends members can help ease anxiety. You need to find someone who is willing to listen and not criticize you. This person should assist you in recognizing that your worries aren't based on fact and that the world won't end any time soon.
Panic Attacks
There are a variety of reasons people are anxious. However, for people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) anxiety, the anxiety-related feelings are persistent and overwhelming. They can cause people to avoid social interactions and tasks. This could negatively impact their work or school performance. They are more likely to be concerned about health issues and other things that could happen.
Panic attacks are intense episodes of fear accompanied by distressing physical symptoms, such as a racing heartbeat and a shortness of breath. These panic attacks can be frightening and could lead people to believe they are suffering from a heart attack or nervous breakdown. These episodes may be severe enough to prevent people from going out and could affect relationships with family and friends.
Treatments for GAD or panic attacks may include medication, therapy, lifestyle and diet changes as well as exercise. One kind of therapy can help a person reshape and reduce their fear using relaxation techniques and gradual exposure to situations that they've avoided. Support groups can be formed with others who have the same problem.
These medications can decrease anxiety and prevent panic attacks. They do this by altering the levels of neurotransmitters that are present in the brain, like serotonin and gamma aminobutryic acid. These drugs are typically referred to as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or antidepressants. They are sold over-the-counter or on prescription. They can be used alone or in conjunction with other treatments, for instance cognitive behavioral therapy.
Antidepressants do not cause addiction unlike sleeping pills, sedatives or painkillers. They are also cheaper than other types of prescription drugs. People who suffer from anxiety are hesitant to take these drugs as they think it is a sign that they are weak, but these drugs can greatly enhance the level of living. They can help them lead an ordinary life and less likely to suffer from anxiety attacks in the future.
Insomnia
GAD can make it difficult for people to rest. They may worry about their health, family, or work late at night. They might wake up earlier than they intend to each morning or they might fall asleep during the day, and have trouble falling back to sleep at night. Sleeplessness can lead to a number of problems like fatigue and irritability. People with this condition are also more likely to suffer headaches and digestive symptoms, such as upset stomach constipation, diarrhea or stomach cramps.
While everyone feels anxious from time to time, feelings of fear or apprehension that last for months and cause significant anxiety or affect daily functioning might indicate that you suffer from an anxiety disorder. The most commonly encountered kinds of anxiety disorders are phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. GAD differs from phobias in that your fears aren't tied to specific objects or circumstances, and you don’t have the specific irrational thinking associated with phobias.
Talk to your doctor when you are experiencing symptoms of GAD. A physical examination or questionnaire can help determine if you have an illness that could be the cause of your symptoms, such as a thyroid disorder or an overactive gland. A mental health professional may also suggest relaxation techniques and other methods to control your symptoms.
In some cases, your doctor may suggest that you keep a sleep diary to record your bedtime and wake times, your patterns of sleep latency and other data over the time of several weeks or more. If you have symptoms that suggest a sleep disorder such as obstructive apnea, a sleep study may be suggested.
You can also practice relaxation techniques, like progressive muscle relaxation, meditation and breathing exercises. Some doctors offer cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI), which is treatment that teaches you how to relax and sleep well. This therapy lasts anywhere between 6 to 8 weeks. You can find CBT-I offered by a variety of healthcare professionals, including psychologists, nurses and doctors. You can also sleep better by avoiding physical activity for 5 to 6 hrs before going to bed and limiting the consumption of caffeine or alcohol.