Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
Consult your physician If you're experiencing constant anxiety symptoms. Everyone has anxiety at times however if they are affecting your day-to-day life or making you be anxious, it's time to seek medical attention. They can test you for GAD and recommend you to a mental health professional.
Many people with GAD also get relief from psychotherapy and medications. Lifestyle adjustments and relaxation techniques can are also helpful.
Tension and Stress
People with GAD have extreme and frequent worry and tension even when there is nothing to worry about. This can make it difficult to sleep and concentrate and the stress may linger for months or years. GAD is often accompanied by other psychiatric conditions that include dysthymia, dysthymia, or depression.
If you are having intense, persistent anxiety symptoms, it's important to consult a mental health professional. They will use diagnostic criteria, standard assessments and their clinical judgment to determine the diagnosis.
It's normal to be anxious and stressed at times, but GAD is characterized by persistent and extreme anxiety. This can have a negative impact on their daily lives as well as relationships. They tend to expect disaster and are more worried than is justified regarding various things, such as money, work, family health, safety, and so on. The stress can cause an individual to avoid activities, and can result in loneliness and social isolation.
GAD symptoms can be treated by medicine and psychotherapy. The majority of medications are used to treat the anxiety symptoms and antidepressants are commonly added to help with depression that is often associated with GAD. Different types of medications are used, and the first option is medications from the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) classes. Examples include escitalopram (Lexapro) and duloxetine (Cymbalta), and Venlafaxine (Effexor XR).
Psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder can be beneficial, and there are many different kinds. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a thoroughly researched and effective treatment for anxiety, and it can teach you new ways of thinking and acting that can ease anxiety and worries. Psychotherapy is usually a long-term treatment, and it is most successful when you have an experienced therapist in treating anxiety.
Social interaction can also aid in relieving anxiety symptoms. You should try to find an aid system you can rely on. Having someone you can talk to in person, particularly when they've experienced anxiety themselves, can be very helpful. Ask your doctor for suggestions for mental health professionals or a therapist in case you aren't sure where to begin.
Physical Signs
GAD can cause anxiety that persists even when there's any reason to be concerned. It can affect adults as well as children. However, it is more common in women. People with this disorder usually experience physical symptoms, like tight muscles and sweating or trembling. People with GAD are unable to control their thoughts and feelings and may feel as though they're losing control of their lives. The condition can also make them unable to relax and may interfere with their relationships. GAD can be treated with psychotherapy or medications.
It's normal to feel anxious particularly when your life gets stressful. If you have these symptoms most of the time and they cause problems with your daily routine you should consult an expert. The doctor may ask questions to make sure that there isn't something that is causing the symptoms. He or she may even order a physical examination. Psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been proven to be effective for many people suffering from anxiety disorders, such as GAD. depression and anxiety disorder helps people understand their anxiety, and gives the tools needed to manage it. It usually involves exposure therapy in which patients are guided by their therapists to confront situations they are afraid of or avoid.
Certain physical symptoms of GAD such as tension in the muscles and trembling can be relieved by medications. A psychologist or psychiatrist might prescribe antidepressants or other kinds of medication to treat anxiety. Some people worry about becoming dependent on prescription medications, but these drugs don't cause addiction and can be taken together with psychotherapy.
Exercise, which releases tension and boosts the feel-good chemicals in the brain, can help reduce anxiety. Meditation is another practice that can reduce anxiety and help to maintain a calm mind. It's been shown to reduce the blood pressure and heart rate associated with stress.
Spending time with family members and friends members can help ease anxiety. It is important to find someone to confide in and talk to you without judgement, criticism or distraction. The person you choose to confide in should help you realize that your worries aren't based on fact and that the world will not end anytime soon.
Panic Attacks
There are many reasons people are anxious. For people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), anxiety is constant and overwhelming. They frequently cause them to avoid social activities and daily tasks, which can affect the performance of their school or work. They are also more likely to be worried about health problems and other issues that could go wrong.
Panic attacks are a series of intense episodes accompanied by distressing symptoms like a racing heart and breath shortness. These panic attacks can be frightening and could lead people to believe they are suffering from a heart attack or nervous breakdown. These episodes can be so intense that they could even hinder people from leaving their homes and they may cause a negative impact on relationships with family members and friends.
Treatments for GAD or panic attacks may include therapy, medication modifications to diet and lifestyle, and exercise. One form of therapy assists people to shape and lessen their anxiety through relaxation techniques and gradual exposure to situations they have avoided. Individuals can seek support in groups of people who have the same condition.
The use of medications can ease anxiety and stop anxiety attacks by altering the levels of certain neurotransmitters like serotonin, gamma-aminobutryic acids (GABA) dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. These medications are commonly referred to as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or antidepressants. They are available over-the-counter or through prescription. They can be used alone or in conjunction with other treatments, like cognitive therapy for behavioral disorders.
Some people are reluctant to take medications for mental illness because they fear becoming dependent, but unlike painkillers, sedatives and sleeping pills, antidepressants do not cause dependence. They are also less expensive than some other types of prescription drugs. People who have anxiety may be hesitant to take them since they believe they are a sign of weakness, however, these drugs can boost the quality of life of a person significantly. They can also help them get back to a normal lifestyle and are less likely to have future panic attacks than those who don't take medications.
Insomnia
People with GAD are unable to get restful sleep. They might be awake at the night worrying about their family, work, health or other issues. They might wake up earlier than they planned to each morning or they might fall asleep during the day, and have trouble falling back to sleep at night. Sleeplessness can lead to numerous issues, like fatigue and irritability. This condition can also trigger headaches and digestive issues, like constipation, diarrhea or stomach upset.
Although everyone experiences anxiety at times fears or apprehension that last months and cause severe anxiety or disrupt your daily life could indicate that you have an anxiety disorder. The most common kinds of anxiety disorders are phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. GAD is distinct from a phobia because your fears aren't tied to specific objects or events and you don't have the specific, irrational fears that are associated with phobias.
If you have symptoms of GAD, talk to your doctor. A physical exam as well as a questionnaire can help determine whether there is a medical condition that could be causing your symptoms, such as thyroid problems or an overactive adrenal gland. A mental health professional might be able to suggest relaxation techniques and other methods to manage your symptoms.
In some cases your doctor may recommend keeping a sleep journal to track your sleep and wake time as well as your patterns of sleep latency and other information over the time of several weeks or more. If you have symptoms that suggest a sleep disorder, such as the obstructive apnea, then it is advised.
You can also try practicing relaxation techniques, like meditation, progressive muscle relaxation and breathing exercises. Some doctors offer cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), a form of treatment that can help you improve your sleep and relax better. The treatment typically lasts between 6 to 8 weeks. You can find CBT-I offered by many healthcare professionals, including nurses, psychologists, and doctors. You can also improve your sleep by not engaging in physical activities for 5 to 6 hours before bedtime and limiting consumption of alcohol or caffeine.