Generalized anxiety disorder

It's normal to feel anxious from time to time, especially if your life is stressful. However, severe, ongoing anxiety that interferes with day-to-day activities may be a sign of generalized anxiety disorder.

It's possible to develop generalized anxiety disorder as a child or as an adult. Generalized anxiety disorder has similar symptoms as panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and other types of anxiety, but they're all different conditions.

Living with generalized anxiety disorder can be a long-term challenge. In many cases, it occurs along with other anxiety or mood disorders. In most cases, generalized anxiety disorder improves with medications or psychological counseling (psychotherapy). Making lifestyle changes, learning coping skills and using relaxation techniques also can help.

Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms can vary. They can include:

·         Constant worrying or obsession about small or large concerns

·         Restlessness and feeling keyed up or on edge

·         Fatigue

·         Difficulty concentrating or your mind "going blank"

·         Irritability

·         Muscle tension or muscle aches

·         Trembling, feeling twitchy or being easily startled

·         Trouble sleeping

·         Sweating, nausea or diarrhea

·         Shortness of breath or rapid heartbeat

There may be times when your worries don't completely consume you, but you still feel anxious even when there's no apparent reason. For example, you may feel intense worry about your safety or that of your loved ones, or you may have a general sense that something bad is about to happen.

Symptoms in children and adolescents
In addition to the symptoms above, children and adolescents may have excessive worries about:

·         Performance at school or sporting events

·         Being on time (punctuality)

·         Earthquakes, nuclear war or other catastrophic events

A child with the disorder may also:

·         Feel overly anxious to fit in

·         Be a perfectionist

·         Lack confidence

·         Redo tasks because they aren't perfect the first time

·         Strive for approval

·         Require a lot of reassurance about performance

When to see a doctor
Some anxiety is normal, but see your doctor if:

·         You feel like you're worrying too much, and it's interfering with your work, relationships or other parts of your life

·         You feel depressed, have trouble with drinking or drugs, or you have other mental health concerns along with anxiety

·         You have suicidal thoughts or behaviors — seek emergency treatment immediately

Your worries are unlikely to simply go away on their own, and they may actually get worse over time. Try to seek professional help before your anxiety becomes severe — it may be easier to treat early on.

As with many mental health conditions, what causes generalized anxiety disorder isn't fully understood. It may involve naturally occurring brain chemicals (neurotransmitters), such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. It's likely that the condition has several causes that may include genetics, your life experiences and stress.

Some physical health conditions are associated with anxiety. Examples include:

·         Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

·         Heart disease

·         Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism

·         Menopause

Things that may increase your risk of developing generalized anxiety disorder include:

·         Being female. More than twice as many women as men are diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder.

·         Childhood trauma. Children who endured abuse or trauma, including witnessing traumatic events, are at higher risk of developing generalized anxiety disorder at some point in life.

·         Illness. Having a chronic health condition or serious illness, such as cancer, can lead to constant worry about the future, your treatment and your finances.

·         Stress. A big event or a number of smaller stressful life situations may trigger excessive anxiety.

·         Personality. People with some personality types are more prone to anxiety disorders than are others. In addition, some personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, also may be linked to generalized anxiety disorder.

·         Genetics. Generalized anxiety disorder may run in families.

·         Substance abuse. Drug or alcohol abuse can worsen generalized anxiety disorder. Caffeine and nicotine also may increase anxiety.

Generalized anxiety disorder does more than just make you worry. It can also lead to, or worsen, other mental and physical health conditions, including:

·         Depression

·         Substance abuse

·         Trouble sleeping (insomnia)

·         Digestive or bowel problems

·         Headaches

·         Teeth grinding (bruxism)

·         Substance use disorders

You may start by seeing your family doctor. However, you may need to see a psychiatrist or psychologist if you have severe anxiety or if you also have another mental health condition, such as depression. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. A psychologist and certain other mental health providers can diagnose mental health conditions and provide counseling (psychotherapy).

Because there's often a lot of ground to cover during an initial appointment, it's a good idea to be well prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready, and know what to expect from your doctor or mental health provider.

What you can do
To be prepared for your visit, it can be helpful to think about a few things ahead of time and write down some notes to take with you. Things to write down include:

·         A list of your symptoms. Include when they occur and whether anything seems to make them better or worse. Also note how much they affect your day-to-day activities, such as work, school or relationships.

·         What's causing you stress. Include any major life changes or stressful events you've dealt with recently. Also write down any traumatic experiences you've had in the past.

·         Any health problems you have. Include both physical conditions and mental health issues.

·         A list of all medications you're taking. Be sure to write down the doses, and include any vitamins or supplements you take.

Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. Some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

·         What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?

·         Are there other possible situations, psychological issues or physical health problems that could be causing or worsening my anxiety?

·         Do I need medical tests or other tests?

·         Are there any restrictions or steps I need to follow?

·         Should I see a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health provider?

·         Would medication help? If so, is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?

·         Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend visiting?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

Psychotherapy
Also known as talk therapy and psychological counseling, psychotherapy involves working out underlying life stresses and concerns and making behavior changes. It can be a very effective treatment for anxiety.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most common types of psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder. Generally a short-term treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on teaching you specific skills to identify negative thoughts and behaviors and replace them with positive ones. Even if an undesirable situation doesn't change, you can reduce stress and gain more control over your life by changing the way you respond.

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Navi Mumbai 400703

Tel: 9987223811 / 9969105310

www.effectivelivingclinic.com