What is General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

GAD is a chronic problem that is characterized by excessive anxiety and irrational worries. People with GAD are concerned about a range of issues, including finances, health, family and work. The main concern is the future and is unlikely to happen.

GAD is not fully understood, but brain and genetic issues could be involved. Medicine and talk therapy are used in the treatment of GAD.

Symptoms

Anxiety is a natural response to stress, but when it becomes severe social anxiety disorder and constant it can cause problems with routine activities. It can trigger headaches, nausea or muscle tension. It can also lead to issues like difficulty concentration at school or at work and issues with relationships and socializing. There are several different methods that can help anxiety disorders. These include psychotherapy and medications.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a mental health condition that is characterized by irrational, excessive worry. People with GAD worry all the time about things that are normal, such as finances, health and family, work, and the future. They feel that they're always at risk, even when there's no reason for them to be worried. The fear can last for a long time and appear out of nowhere.

People suffering from social anxiety disorder (SAD) are frightened of being around other people, especially in groups or one-on-one. They fear that they might say or do something embarrassing or foolish. Symptoms may include sweating, shaking and heart palpitations. People with SAD may avoid or limit social interaction, which can negatively affect their social life as well as job performance.

There are a myriad of treatments available for anxiety disorders, and a majority of people respond well to them. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy can assist individuals in learning to change the negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to their anxiety. One form of therapy that is used in talk therapy is cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. It assists people to recognize and eliminate distorted thoughts that trigger panic attacks and anxiety. It also teaches patients how to confront fearful situations and cope with them.

Medicines can help control some of the physical symptoms, like nausea and dizziness. They can also aid those suffering from anxiety to sleep better and relax. Antidepressants such as SSRIs (escitalopram, Lexapro) or SNRIs (fluoxetine, Prozac), are commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders. Antidepressants, such as tricyclics or monoamine inhibitors of oxidase (MAOIs) are also prescribed by doctors to treat anxiety disorders.

It is important to keep taking medication for anxiety disorders. Stopping medications abruptly can aggravate symptoms. Certain herbal supplements and over-the-counter medications can also aggravate anxiety. It is generalized anxiety disorder a disability recommended to consult a doctor before taking these.

Treatment

If your worries are causing disruption in your daily life, and making you unhappy visit your doctor. Your doctor may ask you questions or recommend you to a mental health specialist for diagnosis and treatment.

It is unclear what causes anxiety disorders however certain life events or traumatic experiences can increase your risk of developing anxiety disorders. They can also be seen in people who are genetically predisposed to them. Numerous screening tests and tests can assist your doctor in determining the severity of your symptoms. For instance the GAD-7 scale developed by Drs. Spitzer, Williams Monahan and Kroenke are self-reporting tools that are useful to diagnose GAD.

If taken regularly, medicines can reduce anxiety, specifically when they are taken according to the prescription. Antidepressants, which are frequently prescribed to treat anxiety disorder, are among the most effective medications available. They can be found in both prescription and over-the-counter forms. Many people are reluctant to take them due to the fear that they will become dependent, but unlike painkillers, sleeping pills and sedatives, antidepressants do not lead to dependence.

Psychotherapy is another option for treating anxiety. This type of treatment, sometimes called talk therapy, can show you how to cope with your anxiety-related symptoms and avoid the severity of your anxiety from getting worse. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a well-known form of psychotherapy that helps people recognize negative and threatening thoughts and behaviors and change them. CBT has been found to be as effective in treating anxiety as medication in some studies.

Other types of psychotherapy are mindfulness training, acceptance-commitment therapy (ACT) or interpersonal therapy. Although research isn't complete on these therapies, they may offer an alternative method of dealing with anxiety and could be worth a try.

Lifestyle changes can also aid. Regular exercise can improve mood and decrease anxiety. A balanced diet can also reduce the effects of stress. Spend time with friends and family or engage in a pastime, or join a support group for people with anxiety.

Diagnosis

Everyone feels anxiety from time to time, especially when facing a big challenge such as a job interview or a medical test. GAD is different, because people with it feel constantly anxious, not just sometimes. They also have difficulty controlling their anxiety, and are prone to anticipating the worst in a variety of situations in everyday life. They could be related to health, money, problems in the family, or work or school performance. The worry can float between different issues and last for months or years.

Doctors diagnose anxiety disorders based on a person's symptoms and how they impact his or her daily life. They will inquire about your health history, and conduct tests to determine if there are physical causes to your symptoms. They will also search for any other mental health issues, such as depression.

There are no tests in the lab for GAD, but your doctor will examine your blood pressure, thyroid function and heart rate. They will also inquire about your daily routine and examine your past history of anxiety. If you have a family history of anxiety disorders or if you've had traumatizing experiences in your childhood, this can make you more likely to develop anxiety disorders. Certain medications and substances could also increase your chances of developing an anxiety disorder.

GAD is more prevalent for women than males, and usually begins around the age of 30, although it can happen at any time in life. It is a lifelong condition, but it can be managed with medication and psychotherapy (talk therapy). Treatment options may include one or both of these treatments. Medicines can ease anxiety and its physical symptoms, like headaches, muscle tension and shaking. Psychotherapy can help you learn to shift your negative thoughts that contribute to anxiety and help you manage stress in a healthier manner. You can also use relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga to ease anxiety symptoms. Some people discover that exercise or other activities that help them concentrate their minds can help ease anxiety, too.

Prevention

Medications and talk therapy can be helpful best cure for anxiety disorder med for generalized anxiety disorder (image source) people with anxiety disorders. Some also resort to relaxation techniques, diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes to help control their symptoms. Talk therapies help people recognize and confront negative thoughts that cause anxiety. These treatments include cognitive behavior therapy in which people are taught to change their thinking patterns as well as exposure therapy in which they confront fears one at a time. The use of medication can treat symptoms in the short term and therapy is the mainstay of treatment.

Generalized anxiety disorder gad is characterised by persistent and exaggerated feelings of worry or fear about many different things. It's hard to manage these emotions, and they are more likely to last for more than 6 months. People who suffer from GAD may have a hard in identifying what they're concerned about, and their concerns usually don't have a specific cause. Typical concerns include money, health, family and friends and work, as well as other day-to-day activities. They also have "what-if" concerns about possible events that could happen, like their children getting in trouble or their house burning down.

In addition to creating anxiety, stress can also hinder a person's ability to do daily tasks, like school or work. It can cause sleep problems and aches and discomforts. It also increases the risk of a person suffering from mental health issues, including depression. It can also affect the quality of relationships a person has and their the quality of their life.

Certain factors can make someone more likely to develop anxiety disorders. These are known as risk factors. They include the presence of mental health issues as well as having a family member with an anxiety disorder. Physical and emotional abuse in childhood can raise the chances of developing an anxiety disorder later in life. Certain medical conditions, such as lung disease, heart disease, or thyroid issues, can also cause anxiety, and are often the first indication of an issue. Certain medications can also trigger anxiety as an effect.

Some herbal supplements and other over the counter medicines can also worsen anxiety, and therefore people should consult with a doctor prior to when they begin using these products. Alcohol and drug abuse and nicotine can cause the symptoms to get worse.