A very common type of psychological disorder is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Unlike Social Anxiety Disorder or any of the specific phobias (e.g. agoraphobia, et cetera), Generalized Anxiety sufferers have an uncontrollable anxiety about everyday things all around them, all the time. In fact, in order to be diagnosed clinically with GAD, worry must be present more days than not for at least 6 months; in other words, you have to be worried most of the time, even about the most mundane things.

Symptoms

There are many symptoms of Generalized Anxiety, however, because it usually occurs in conjunction with other issues, such as substance abuse or Obsessive-compulsive disorder. It often lacks any telltale signs, as opposed to panic disorder that is relatively obvious. The symptoms of GAD can include cold, clammy hands, hypertension, diarrhea and stomach problems, muscle tension, sweating, and trouble swallowing. Usually GAD sufferers have trouble sleeping but are tired more often, and often feel and complain about being an edgy. Usually there is a peak time for this anxiety; either the person is at their most anxious in the morning or it fades off as they go to sleep, or they are at their most anxious at the nighttime hours. The main characteristic of GAD is that it is not just worry, but exaggerated worry; even up to the person realizing that what they are worrying is irrational, often coupled with depression.

Causes of General Anxiety

The exact causes of Generalized Anxiety are not known, although there are several theories that may fit specific cases. Childhood or adult trauma can make a person susceptible to GAD, as they become worried after a specific traumatic event, and feel like everything around them is untrustworthy, creating an air of tension and anxiety that sticks with them and worsens. Another possible cause of GAD is substance abuse, as many controlled and illicit substances change brain chemistry and when used recreationally can do so in uncontrolled and unpredictable manners. It is more common in women than in men, and often runs in families.

Treatment of General Anxiety

The first step in treatment for Generalized Anxiety, as with any psychological condition, is to seek a diagnosis and course of treatment from a qualified mental health professional. After diagnosis, there are several avenues of treatment available, including psychotherapy and medication. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are generally one of the most common forms of anxiolytics, or anxiety drugs, used in treatment today. Also popular is buspirone. There is also currently research into other medications like benzodiazepines and traditional antidepressants as treatments for GAD, as well as psychotherapy and biofeedback. The main disadvantage of most of the most effective drugs that have the least number of side effects is that they take several weeks to start being effective.

Psychotherapy for Generalized Anxiety is usually of the cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) type. The main purpose of CBT is to change the thought processes that have created the anxiety and phobic reactions in the first place. CBT theory is that most psychological phobic and anxiety reactions have as a root the idea of negative reinforcement and self-fulfilling prophecy, e.g. that someone who is embarrassed and feels people are watching him is more likely to make a mistake that gets everyone watching and laughing at him, thus making his fear of the situation worse. CBT seeks to correct these negative thought processes. The ultimate goal is to reinsert the patient back into those situations that caused the phobic reaction in a controlled environment, so that the patient can see viscerally that there is no reason to be afraid or anxious. This type of therapy is effective in the vast majority of cases, provided it is overseen by a qualified mental health professional with a solid support structure of understanding and caring friends and family. With such a support structure, a patient can expect to make significant advances in recovery in just a few weeks and a near complete recovery inside of a year from their debilitating condition.

Overview of General Anxiety Treatment

Generalized Anxiety can be crippling, and should be addressed as soon as it begins to affect your quality of life. Whether the course of action is medication or therapy, treatment should be aggressively sought and recommendations followed, to ensure complete recovery.

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