Generalized Anxiety Disorder - Symptoms and Treatment
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) describes a condition where you constantly worry and are distracted from your day-to-day activities.
Perhaps you're troubled by a sense that something bad is going to happen and you just can't shake the feeling.
People with generalized anxiety disorder are chronic worriers who feel anxious nearly 100% of the time.
However, often these people don't even know why.
They expect disaster around every corner and unnaturally concerned with issues such as health, money, death and family.
Potential Causes of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Stress, genetics, and a bunch of other issues play a part in causing GAD.
There is research to suggest GAD runs in families (genetics) and that it also grows worse during times of stress.
Compared to other mental disorders, GAD takes its time to manifest however it tends to begin at an earlier age.
Long-term use of anti anxiety medication can worse the underlying anxiety.
Reduction of benzodiazepines use (anxiety medication) has been linked to a lessening of anxiety symptoms.
GAD has also been linked to an error that the brain makes when processing fear and anxiety.
Certain parts of the brain process sensory-related fear memories and communicate the importance of specific events to memory.
Connections inside the brain and between different parts have been found to be weaker in people with GAD.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment One option is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
This describes the process by which a therapist works with a patient to understand how thoughts and feelings have an effect on behavior.
The goal of CBT is to change negative thought patterns that lead to anxiety.
SSRIs are another option when it comes to treating GAD.
They are antidepressants and influence brain chemistry to block the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain.
SSRIs are often used for depression, but are known to be effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines or benzos are sedatives which act fast to treat generalized anxiety disorder and other similar disorders.
They tend to show beneficial effects in the short term, though long-term use has been linked to a worsening of anxiety symptoms.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms There are a number of physical symptoms which people with GAD display.
They include fidgeting, fatigue, difficulty breathing, nausea, trouble concentrating, trembling, twitching, insomnia, rashes, agitation and irritability.
For a formal diagnosis of GAD to be made, these symptoms must be consistent and on-going for at least 6 months.
Perhaps you're troubled by a sense that something bad is going to happen and you just can't shake the feeling.
People with generalized anxiety disorder are chronic worriers who feel anxious nearly 100% of the time.
However, often these people don't even know why.
They expect disaster around every corner and unnaturally concerned with issues such as health, money, death and family.
Potential Causes of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Stress, genetics, and a bunch of other issues play a part in causing GAD.
There is research to suggest GAD runs in families (genetics) and that it also grows worse during times of stress.
Compared to other mental disorders, GAD takes its time to manifest however it tends to begin at an earlier age.
Long-term use of anti anxiety medication can worse the underlying anxiety.
Reduction of benzodiazepines use (anxiety medication) has been linked to a lessening of anxiety symptoms.
GAD has also been linked to an error that the brain makes when processing fear and anxiety.
Certain parts of the brain process sensory-related fear memories and communicate the importance of specific events to memory.
Connections inside the brain and between different parts have been found to be weaker in people with GAD.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment One option is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
This describes the process by which a therapist works with a patient to understand how thoughts and feelings have an effect on behavior.
The goal of CBT is to change negative thought patterns that lead to anxiety.
SSRIs are another option when it comes to treating GAD.
They are antidepressants and influence brain chemistry to block the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain.
SSRIs are often used for depression, but are known to be effective in treating anxiety.
Benzodiazepines or benzos are sedatives which act fast to treat generalized anxiety disorder and other similar disorders.
They tend to show beneficial effects in the short term, though long-term use has been linked to a worsening of anxiety symptoms.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms There are a number of physical symptoms which people with GAD display.
They include fidgeting, fatigue, difficulty breathing, nausea, trouble concentrating, trembling, twitching, insomnia, rashes, agitation and irritability.
For a formal diagnosis of GAD to be made, these symptoms must be consistent and on-going for at least 6 months.
