Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Overview
Everyone has experienced some level of anxiety or stress in their lives. However, it becomes a concern when that stress persists for days or even months. When anxiety significantly interferes with an individual's daily life, it may be a sign of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD).
Generalised anxiety disorder is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders today.
Research indicates that 18-20% of adults experience anxiety disorders annually. GAD can develop in both childhood and adulthood. Though its symptoms overlap with those of panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other anxiety-related conditions, GAD remains a distinct disorder.
What Is Generalised Anxiety Disorder?
People with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) experience persistent feelings of stress and anxiety, often without any apparent reason. If you have been worried for more than six months and find it difficult to control these feelings, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider as soon as possible. Generalised anxiety disorder is marked by ongoing fear, worry, and an overwhelming sense of being anxious. Individuals suffering from GAD are often overly concerned and can become fixated on issues that may seem irrelevant or trivial. This anxiety is frequently connected to aspects such as finances, family matters, health issues, or concerns about the future.
What Are the Different Causes of Generalised Anxiety Disorder?
Experts have not pinpointed the exact causes of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), but there are several factors that might contribute to its development. These include genetics, brain structure, life experiences, medication side effects, and medical conditions:
- Genetics: Like many other mental health and medical conditions, a person can be genetically predisposed to developing GAD if a family member has been diagnosed with the disorder.
- Brain Structure: Disturbances in certain nerve cell connections in the brain may affect the way the brain processes thoughts and emotions. Neurotransmitters, which help pass information between nerve cells, can be disrupted, leading to issues such as anxiety.
- Life Experiences: Traumatic events like abuse, trauma, the death of a loved one, divorce, or career challenges can trigger or exacerbate GAD symptoms.
- Medication Side Effects: Some medications or substance abuse can cause anxiety as a side effect, contributing to the development of GAD.
- Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as hyperthyroidism, can lead to anxiety due to hormonal imbalances.
Different Signs and Symptoms of Generalised Anxiety Disorder
There are psychological and physical symptoms of GAD. The seriousness of the disorder differs from person to person.
The physical symptoms along with worry that a person may feel are:
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Noticeably rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
- Muscle aches and tension
- Trembling or shaking
- Dry mouth
- Excessive sweating
- Shortness of breath
- Stomach pain or discomfort
- Feeling nauseous
- Headaches
- Sensations of pins and needles
- Difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia)
The psychological symptoms:
- Persistent worry and tension
- Intensified perception of problems compared to those without GAD
- Excessive overthinking of plans or solutions
- Pervasive worst-case scenario thinking
- Perception of events as threatening even when they aren't
- General restlessness or feeling constantly on edge
- Difficulty handling uncertainty
- Fear of making incorrect decisions
- Trouble focusing or concentrating
- Increased irritability or crankiness
- Feeling like your mind goes blank
How Is Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Diagnosed?
Your psychiatrists will perform a detailed mental health evaluation to diagnose and treat GAD.
They will assess you by asking about your symptoms.
The doctors conduct medical examinations to find out if certain illnesses or drug abuse are causing the symptoms.
Diagnostic tests of blood and urine are requested.
Psychological questionnaires are made to help create a diagnosis.
GAD has been linked to thyroid disorders, heart disease, epilepsy, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), pheochromocytoma, bipolar disorder, and caffeine confusion.
What Is the Treatment of GAD?
Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) includes medication, talk therapy, and self-care, which can make a difference depending on factors such as age, gender, and overall health of the individual.
Medication
This helps to relieve the symptoms of GAD. Medications include:
Antidepressants:
These include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), which are also used to treat depression and other illnesses. Some of these medications include escitalopram (Lexapro), duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor XR), and paroxetine (Paxil, Pexeva). Your healthcare professional may also prescribe other antidepressants.
Anti-Anxiety Medications:
These medicines are generally not prescribed for long periods due to the risks of dependency. Anti-anxiety medications help ease physical symptoms like stomach cramps. The most common anti-anxiety medications are alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), clonazepam (Klonopin), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), and diazepam (Valium). Anti-anxiety drugs are not recommended for people who suffer from addiction.
Psychotherapy
Also known as talk therapy or psychological counselling, psychotherapy includes several therapies for unhealthy and negative feelings, perceptions, and actions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
This type of therapy helps in understanding what kind of thoughts give rise to anxiety symptoms. Your counselor or therapist will then help you in changing the negative thought patterns. This cannot cure CBT but helps you live a better life.
Mindfulness-Based Therapies:
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy or MBCT is a combination of mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques such as yoga, meditation, and cognitive behavioral therapy. A total of 200 studies prove that MBCT is quite helpful in reducing anxiety. Several studies reveal it can serve as an effective therapy for depression.
ACT – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy:
ACT is a newer form of therapy that is based on the theory that if you focus all your attention on the fact that you feel anxious, you will remain anxious. An ACT-trained therapist can assist you in finding healthier ways to respond to distressing thoughts and emotions.
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy:
This therapy was founded on theories of the highly renowned psychiatrist Sigmund Freud. This therapy helps you comprehend how your present behavior patterns and emotions are influenced by your past.
Supportive-Expressive Therapy:
This type of treatment involves letting a therapist help you analyze different matters in your life that you wish to transform. You are going to discuss your relationships and interactions, your habits and behaviors, and the ways to cope with some issues.
What Is the Difference between General Anxiety Disorder & Anxiety?
It’s important to understand when anxiety is becoming severe. Normal anxiety makes us extra vigilant about the environment. Below are the differences between Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and regular anxiety:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder vs. Anxiety
Normal Anxiety:
- Anxiety can be managed.
- The severity of the situation has a direct impact on anxiety levels.
- You tend to worry about things related to situations that cause anxiety.
- Coping techniques can help you relax.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):
- GAD is more severe.
- You feel more anxious than the situation deserves.
- You are always worried about all kinds of things and situations.
- It’s hard to find comfort, calm, and time to escape your worries.
Common Myths About Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Myth: People suffering from GAD are overdramatic.
Fact: They are not being dramatic because they can’t control their emotions.
Myth: Because the disorder is “generalized”, GAD isn’t that bad.
Fact: The disorder is serious and it negatively affects the person’s life.
Myth: People who have generalized anxiety don’t socialize.
Fact: People suffering from GAD can socialize.
How to Cope with Generalized Anxiety Disorder
While living with GAD can be challenging there can be lifestyle changes that help in the recovery.
Healthy Lifestyle
Making healthy choices in your daily routine, such as reducing caffeine intake and ensuring adequate sleep, can significantly help in reducing anxiety symptoms.
Stress Management Techniques
Yoga, meditation, and exercise can help in treatment and enhance the recovery process.
Avoid Consumption of Drugs and Alcohol
The use of drugs, substances, and alcohol can worsen the symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder .
Join a Self-Help Group
Joining a self-help group with people who have been through similar experiences can help you feel less lonely.
How to Support Your Loved One with GAD
1. Listen
The simplest task to understand them is by listening actively. It is important not to jump to conclusions regarding the cause of the anxiety or how the person may feel about it.
2. Let Me Help You Be Your Accountability Partner
There are means of overcoming anxiety, although they might appear overwhelming to an individual. Keep them company by accompanying them to participate in beneficial activities, for eg:- going to the gym or playing a sport.
3. Encourage Self-Care
People struggle to maintain basic self-care practices like they will not get enough sleep, not getting enough rest, and not eating right when a person has a mental disorder. So you can always encourage them to indulge in these habits or get back to their lifestyle in a positive manner.
Why Choose Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre for the Treatment of Generalised Anxiety Disorder?
You or anyone you know who is struggling with GAD should come to our recovery centre. At Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre, we offer the highest quality of generalised anxiety disorder that enables patients to recover as quickly as possible. The GAD treatment plans are individualized and evidence-based and we do not forget that the patients have problems. Our intended treatment plan works comprehensively to ease stresses and boost the confidence of the patients. We also provide counselling to identify the root cause of the problem and build up the client’s determination. We work towards the optimal physical and psychological well-being of our patients.