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Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Overview

Almost all of us will have felt anxious or worried at some point in our lives, and often for good reason.  It’s a perfectly normal reaction to a variety of different circumstances, or experiences that can affect all of us at any time in our lives.  Generally our anxiety is short lived as it only lasts as long as the reason for it occurring does, so it’s not something to worry about unduly.

If however, you find yourself uncontrollably or excessively feeling anxious or worried about minor everyday occurrences or feel constantly overwhelmed with feelings of anxiety that you are unable to control, you may have GAD (generalised anxiety disorder) a mental health condition and one of several anxiety disorders.

People suffering from GAD feel anxious all the time and have done for a long period of time generally at least six months.  Their anxiety is caused by more than one source, and it seems as though once they stop worrying about one thing, they start to worry about something else. GAD can have a serious impact on a person’s daily life, often leaving them feeling unable to cope, as they can struggle to remember a time when they didn’t feel constantly in a state of anxiety.

GAD generally starts around the age of thirty and tends to affect women more often than men, but it can occasionally occur in childhood.  It’s believed to affect around three percent of the adult population and around one in four children between the ages of thirteen and eighteen.  Most people who have GAD have one or more other mental health condition such as:

·      Drug or alcohol addiction or misuse

·      Major depression

·      Obsessive compulsive disorder

·      Panic disorder

·      Phobias

·      Post-traumatic stress disorder

·      Social anxiety disorder

·      Suicidal thoughts or attempts

Causes

The exact cause of GAD remains unknown but experts believe that there are several factors that may contribute to its development which include both genetic and environmental causes as well as differences in brain chemistry.  These can include one or more of the following:

·      Medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism or side effects of certain medications

·      Having a chronic illness or disease or long-term pain conditions

·      A family history of GAD or anxiety

·      Drug and alcohol misuse

·      Overuse of tobacco or caffeine

·      Childhood trauma or abuse or being bullied

·      Recent stressful situations like bereavement, divorce, or loss of a home or job, and resulting financial worries

·      Domestic violence or abuse

·      Personality traits such as being negative, timid or fearful

·      Differences in brain function particularly in areas of the brain that involve our emotions and behaviours

·      Chemical imbalances in the brain that effect serotonin or noradrenaline

It is also possible however to develop GAD without there being any obvious reason or cause.

Symptoms of GAD

Symptoms can vary in frequency and severity over time and can worsen during periods of stress, the condition causes both physical and psychological symptoms.

Physical Symptoms

·      Irritability

·      Fatigue and exhaustion

·      Difficulty sleeping

·      Feeling twitching or trembling

·      Feeling shaky, weak or lightheaded

·      Tingling or numbness

·      Headaches

·      Dry mouth

·      Difficulty swallowing or feeling like there is a lump in the threat

·      Sweating or sweaty palms

·      Muscle tension, aches and pains

·      Being easily startled

·      Shortness of breath

·      Gastrointestinal issues, stomach aches, needing to use the toilet more often

·      An irregular or rapid heartbeat

Psychological Symptoms

·      Feeling restless and struggling to relax

·      Worrying excessively over even the smallest of things

·      Problems trying to concentrate and feeling like your mind is blank

·      Anxiety

·      Worrying all the time

·      Over thinking and believing problems are more serious than they are

·      Struggle with uncertainty

·      Perceiving something to be a threat when it isn’t

·      Over thinking

·      Fear making the wrong decision

Symptoms in children

Symptoms in children and adolescents can b the same as in adults but can also include things like:

·      Lacking confidence and constantly seeking reassurance

·      Fearing they don’t fit in

·      Not wanting to go to school or avoiding social situations

·      Spend too much time studying or redoing tasks and being a perfectionist

·      Struggling with physical symptoms like headaches and stomach aches or general aches and pains

·      Worrying about family members and being concerned that they are safe

·      Wanting to always be on time

·      Being worried about their performance at school

·      Fearing catastrophic events like natural disasters

Self-Help for GAD

If you have GAD or any anxiety based mental health disorder there are several ways you can help to manage or reduce your symptoms.  Here are a few simple things you can try:

·      Try and maintain a healthy lifestyle by ensuring you eat a healthy and balanced diet, taking regular exercise which will help improve your mood and reduce stress.  Cut out or reduce your consumption of caffeine, tobacco, alcohol and non-prescriptive drugs

·      Make sure you get enough good quality sleep by going to bed and rising at the same time everyday

·      Try relaxation techniques like mindfulness, meditation yoga and breathing exercises all of which can help to reduce stress and anxiety

·      Self-help or support groups can help people to feel less isolated and to benefit from talking to people with similar symptoms and challenges

Professional Help

If you are struggling to manage your anxiety and it is having a negative effect on your daily life you should consult a doctor.  They will be able to rule out any underlying physical cause and prescribe suitable medication to deal with your symptoms such as antianxiety medication, antidepressants or SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) if appropriate.  They can refer you to a mental health professional for therapy, they can treat you with a variety of therapies or a combination of different therapies including:

·      Psychotherapy a form of talking therapy most commonly used to treat GAD which aims to help a person recognise and change unhealthy, thoughts, emotions or behaviours

·      CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) along with psychotherapy is the most common therapy used to treat GAD.  With CBT you can come to understand how constant worrying can affect your actions and how to change negative thinking and behaviours

Written by Jan, Jeana and Wendy at Barnsley Hypnosis and Counselling (UK).  For more free information click above link.

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