Generalized Anxiety Disorder includes such symptoms as excessive worrying about the everyday events in one's life where there is no apparent or logical realistic reason to worry. Individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder tend to view life as if they expect there is going to be a disaster around every corner. They simply cannot stop themselves from worrying about their family, money, work or school. People with Generalized Anxiety Disorder worry about things with great intensity, much more intensity than the situation may realistically warrant. Daily life becomes a constant state of worry, dread, and fear to the degree their anxiety rules the individuals thinking and interferes with their ability to function in their daily routine, including school, work or relationships.
If you feel you may be experiencing some of these symptoms and may be suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, you are not alone. It's estimated that nearly 4 million Americans suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder over the course of a year. These symptoms begin to manifest themselves in childhood or adolescence, though they can also begin in adulthood. The disorder is more common in women than men.
Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
The most common Symptoms that people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder experience
are:
Headaches
Upset stomach and nausea
Problems maintaining focus and concentration
Irritability
Ongoing, excessive worrying about life events
A distorted, irrational view of their problems
Restlessness
Muscle tension
Sweating
Needing to urinate frequently
Fatigue
Difficulty falling or staying asleep
People with Generalized Anxiety Disorder can also suffer from other anxiety-related problems, such as panic disorders, phobias, depression, Obsessive Compulsive disorder or have substance abuse issues.
How Does Generalized Anxiety Disorder Develop in a person?
How Generalized Anxiety Disorder develops is not fully understood but is thought to be due to a number of different factors, including one's unique brain chemistry, genetic factors, and environmental stresses.
People suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder have been shown to have deficient levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. When these neurotransmitters are not sufficient, messages cannot be properly transmitted through the brain. This can create a condition of anxiety within the brain.
Environmental factors can also play a role when trauma or stressful events, like abuse or the death of a loved one, a change in job or living arrangements, divorce, and so forth, may lead to Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Any sudden withdrawal from addictive substances, such as illicit or prescription drugs or caffeine can intensify feelings of anxiety.
There is also research that one's family background can play a significant role in predicting the likelihood that an individual will develop Generalized Anxiety Disorder. In other words, Generalized Anxiety Disorder can be passed through families intergenerationally.
Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generally, any treatment should be done under the guidance, expertise, and experience of a trained mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or Clinical Social Worker. Treatment for Generalized Anxiety Disorder usually involves a combination of medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Medication for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Medications are often indicated for individuals whose anxiety tends to interfere with their daily lives. The types of medications most often used to treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder are from the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines, sometimes referred to as tranquilizers, due to their tendency to leave people feeling calm and relaxed. Common drugs in this class include Valium, Librium, Xanax, and Ativan. Nowadays, antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Effexor and Paxil are being used to treat anxiety-related issues as well.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy: This therapy focuses on recognizing negative thought patterns and then changing them to reflect a more realistic outlook on one's problems. This type of therapy aims to decrease distorted thought patterns by approaching worries more realistically and rationally.
Other treatments for Generalized Anxiety Disorder include relaxation techniques, like biofeedback and deep breathing that can help control muscle tension associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. There are also a number of natural alternatives to anxiety medications that have none of the side effects. Many natural herbs and homeopathic remedies for anxiety have been studied and thoroughly researched and found to be equal to or even surpass synthetic medications for anxiety. If you suffer from anxiety, you owe it to yourself to check them out.