Anxiety Attacks? Overcoming General Anxiety Disorder
Posted on | September 20, 2009 | 2 Comments
Although it is normal to feel anxiety when you face the stresses of ordinary life, it is not normal to have an ongoing anxiety that interferes with daily activities and relationships. It is when social anxiety makes it difficult to enjoy life that you should suspect general anxiety disorder.
Generalized anxiety disorder can manifest itself during childhood or adulthood. It has similar symptoms as a panic disorder and other types of social anxiety disorder.
However, they are all different conditions.
Coping with an anxiety disorder is a difficult, long term, process. It can be accompanied by other panic or mood disorders. However, in most cases, generalized anxiety disorder can successfully treated with a combination of anxiety medications and psychotherapy.
In addition, lifestyle changes coping skills and relaxation techniques are a useful supplement to medical care.
Symptoms Of General Anxiety Disorder
The anxiety symptoms associated with general anxiety disorder can include:
- Incessant worrying or obsession
- Constant restlessness
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Trembling
- Insomnia
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Shortness of breath
- Heart Palpitations
Even though there may be brief periods of time where you feel that your anxiety does not rule your life, you continue to experience feelings of anxiety even if there is not really a reason for the feeling. Most people with a generalized anxiety disorder are constantly haunted by a sense of foreboding.
They are always waiting for “the other shoe to drop.”
Many people with generalized anxiety disorder can’t recall when they last felt relaxed or at ease.
Common Risk Factors For General Anxiety Disorder
Several risk factors tend to increase the risk of developing general anxiety disorder, including, but not limited to:
Being Female. Women are twice as likely to develop generalized anxiety disorder as their male counterparts.
Childhood Abuse Or Trauma. If a patient suffered from abuse or other trauma as a child, even if they only witnessed the trauma, they are at higher risk of generalized anxiety disorder at some point in life.
Chronic Or Serious Illness. Having a chronic health condition or serious illness such as cancer can cause significant worry about the future, your treatment and your finances.
Stressful Lifestyle. Where the patient anticipates a stressful or important event, he or she may experience a higher anxiety level. However, with an anxiety sufferer, even smaller events chronically trigger excess anxiety.
Personality Type. People with Type A personalities are more prone to anxiety disorders than are others. In addition, other personality disorders may be linked to generalized anxiety disorder.
Genetic Makeup. Generalized anxiety disorder may run in families for psychological and well a physiological reasons. If family members have had a history of anxiety, depression or panic attacks, you may have a predisposition to having an anxiety disorder as well.
Drug And Alcohol Abuse. Substance abuse can aggravate generalized anxiety disorder. Caffeine and nicotine also may have an effect on anxiety.
See A Physician For Generalized Anxiety Disorder
While it is true that some anxiety is a normal part of everyday life, it is important to see a physician if you are experiencing one or more of the following:
Worrying Too Much. If you feel like you’re worrying too much, the you probably are. If your worrying is causing problems at work, home or other parts of your life, then it is time to see a doctor.
Feelings Of Depression. If you feel depressed or are using drugs or alcohol as an escape, or you have other concerns along with anxiety. You may need to seek depression treatment because generalized anxiety disorder and feelings of depression often accompany each other.
Suicidal Thoughts. If you are having suicidal thoughts, you need to seek help immediately. You are supposed to seek help because something is wrong and it is not your fault.
Your anxiety is not going to go away on its own. In fact, unless you get help, it is likely to get worse.
Go ahead and seek medical help now because anxiety is easier to successfully treat the earlier it is caught.
How Can Your Doctor Help You?
When you seek medical treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, your physician will perform a physical examination and ask you a series of questions.
If you have already considered the answers, then you will have more time to spend on other aspects of treatment.
Here are some of the most common questions:
- What are your symptoms? How severe are your symptoms? (Give examples)
- Does your anxiety seem to be continuous or occasional?
- How long ago did you first notice your anxiety?
- What triggers your anxiety. What seems to make it better or worse?
- Have you been diagnosed with any other mental health condition?
- What, if any, physical or mental health conditions do you have?
- Did you have, or witness, a traumatic experience recently or in the past?
- Do you use alcohol, medications, or illegal drugs? If so, how often? (Do not be afraid to answer this question truthfully as your physician is not interested in reporting you to the police).
- Do you have relatives with anxiety or depression?
In order to diagnose you with generalized anxiety disorder, your physician must examine the following criteria:
- Excessive anxiety and worry most days of the week that has persisted for at least six months.
- Inability or difficulty controlling worry.
- Anxiety or worry that interferes with your daily life.
- Anxiety that isn’t related to another mental health condition (ie panic attacks, drug and alcohol abuse, or post-traumatic stress disorder).
- Three of the following: restlessness, fatigue, trouble concentrating, irritability, muscle tension or insomnia.
Medications For Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Several different types of medications are used to treat generalized anxiety disorder:
Antidepressants. These affect activity of certain neurotransmitters and are commonly used in depression treatment. These are thought to play a role in anxiety disorders. Common depression medications include Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, Zoloft, Effexor and Tofranil.
Buspirone (BuSpar). This anxiety medication can be used on an ongoing basis. However, it takes several weeks to become fully effective. You may experience lightheadedness for a period of time after you begin taking it. Unfortunately, in some cases, it has the opposite of the intended effect including, headaches, nausea, nervousness and insomnia. If you experience these symptoms, consult your physician.
Benzodiazepines. These are prescribed for short-term relief of anxiety symptoms. These include Klonopin, Ativan), Valium, Librium and Xanax. These medications are generally short term solutions for acute anxiety symptoms. The main disadvantage of these medications is that they are habit forming and cause drowsiness, reduced muscle coordination, lack of balance and memory.
Therapy For Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Counseling or therapy is an essential tool in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. It involves working through the underlying life stresses and concerns by making changes in response to them. Used in conjunction with medication, it can be a very effective treatment for anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most common type of therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. It is generally a short-term treatment that focuses on teaching you coping skills. You learn to identify negative thoughts and behaviors and replace them with positive ones.
Even if a stressful situation doesn’t change, you change the way you feel about the situation thereby increasing control over your life.
Lifestyle Changes And Self Help For Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Most people need psychotherapy and/or medication to get anxiety under control. But, certain lifestyle changes can be an effective supplement to medical treatment. Some of the most common lifestyle changes are:
Exercise. This is a powerful stress reducer and serves to cause your body to create more of the same chemicals that are created through the use of depression medications. The exercise routine needs to be moderate and daily. Start slowly and increase the amount and intensity of exercise over a period of time. With exercise, easy really does it.
Diet. Fatty, sugary and highly processed foods should be avoided. Some people are more sensitive to refined sugar and processed breads and pastas. Organic vegetables, whole grain breads and free range meat are good dietary choices. Eat a lot of fish.
Avoid alcohol and other sedatives. This is self explanatory.
Relaxation Techniques. Visualization techniques, meditation and yoga are examples of relaxation techniques that can ease anxiety. They are easy to learn and you will eventually look forward to your meditation or yoga workouts. This should be time that you give yourself permission just for yourself.
Get Plenty Of Sleep. You have to get plenty of sleep for a variety of reasons. If you are sleep deprived, you cannot think rationally and you will tend to use stimulants such as caffeine. If you are not sleeping well, let your doctor know.
Join An Anxiety Support Group. Part of the anxiety is derived from a feeling that something is wrong with you. Having the support of other anxiety sufferers can alleviate these feelings. Search for support groups in your community, and on the Internet.
Take Action. A lot of anxiety is derived from feelings of helplessness. It certain situations are causing you anxiety, then address them. Action, any action, is empowering and gives you a sense of control.
Let It Be. I love the Beatles version of the song “Let It Be.” In fact, I listen to it often. You cannot control every aspect of your life, nor should you be able to do so. A certain amount of uncertainty gives the Divine the opportunity to work for you in your life and builds your faith. As you are a creature with free will, God will not intervene until you let it be.
Break The Cycle. Anxiety often causes paralysis. When you feel symptoms of anxiety, break the pattern by exercising, meditating or doing something else to change your state of mind.
Stick To Your Treatment. People who seek medical assistance often find rapid recovery from the symptoms of anxiety. You may be tempted to skip your medicine, support group or therapy session. Don’t do it. Take medications as prescribed. Keep therapy appointments. Consistency can make a big difference in regaining control of your life.
Socialize With Others. The worst thing you can do when suffering from generalized anxiety disorder is isolate yourself. Social interaction and caring relationships can lessen your worries.
Using Alternative Medicine For General Anxiety Disorder
It is not clear how some supplements treat anxiety, but some supplements that have been used to treat anxiety include:
Kava. This herb is reported to relax you without making you feel sedated. Some studies have linked kava to liver problems, so it isn’t a good idea to take it if you have a liver condition, drink alcohol daily or take medications that affect your liver.
Valerian. Most commonly used as a sleep aid, valerian has a sedative effect and may also relieve anxiety.
Vitamin B and Folic Acid. These nutrients may relieve anxiety by affecting the production of chemicals needed for your brain to function (neurotransmitters).
Talk to your doctor before taking herbal remedies or supplements to make sure they’re safe for you and won’t interact with any medications you take.
Preventing Generalized Anxiety Disorder
There is no way that you can be certain that your symptoms of anxiety will deteriorate into generalized anxiety disorder. However, there are steps that you can take to minimize this possibility:
Seek Medical help Early. The worst thing that can happen is that you will find that you are not suffering from a disorder. However, as with any ailment, the longer you wait, the harder it is to treat the disorder.
Journal. Journaling is a great way to keep track of your life and notice trends over time that might escape your attention. If necessary, your physician or mental health provider can use the journal to document the development of a mental health disorder.
Prioritize Your Activities. Manage your time and energy. Do not try to do too much each day. A to do list that is consistently longer than five items is a prescription for anxiety. Learn to delegate. Learn to say “No.”
Avoid Substance Use. Alcohol, illegal and prescription drugs and even excessive caffeine consumption can lead to increased symptoms of anxiety. If you are addicted to any substance, quitting increases anxiety. Seek help early to minimize anxiety.
Seek Help Early For General Anxiety Disorder
As with other mental health conditions, generalized anxiety disorder is not completely understood. It may involve naturally occurring brain chemicals and/or have other causes such as genetics, your environment and stress.
Generalized anxiety disorder is a persistent condition that requires ongoing treatment. Fortunately, with treatment, you will not feel anxious all of the time. However, the susceptibility remains, especially during the natural stresses of life.
Anxiety disorders can occur alone or in conjunction with other mental health conditions, such as other anxiety disorders, drug and alcohol abuse and mood disorders.
The good news is that general anxiety disorder is a highly treatable condition through a combination of therapy, lifestyle changes and medication. Do not suffer in silence. You will only make things worse if you wait.
Related posts:
- Panic Attacks? Anxiety Help Is Available
- Anxiety treatment: What To Expect From Anxiety Therapy
- Anxiety Medications: The Best Drugs For Anxiety Help
Tags: anxiety > anxiety attacks > anxiety disorder > anxiety symptoms > depression treatment > general anxiety disorder > generalized anxiety disorder > panic disorder > social anxiety > social anxiety disorder
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2 Responses to “Anxiety Attacks? Overcoming General Anxiety Disorder”
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March 4th, 2010 @ 8:36 pm
However, the good news is, there could be some help. This help could come from acupuncture. Now, studies have already shown that acupuncture can increase fertility in women, but can it do the same for men. That is the topic that we are going to talk about today.
May 29th, 2010 @ 9:58 am
I have heard that there is no calorie counting on the EODD. Is this true?