No matter who you are, we all feel anxious every now and then. After all, it’s a common human emotion that everyone will experience throughout the course of their lives. Although some forms of anxiety are normal and essential for us to make the right decisions, excessive fear and worrying about the future can make your life harder than it needs to be. Such troublesome amounts of stress could indicate that you’re dealing with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and not common anxiety.
I have personally dealt with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) most of my life. As a teenager, my mother didn’t know what was wrong with me or how to help. She assumed I was just very shy and put me in acting classes, modeling, a dance program, and a drill team. This isn’t what I would recommend as an initial step, but it actually helped me to socialize more and helped with my anxiety symptoms.
A time I remember in particular, was when my best friend’s grandmother took us to the Orange County Fair when we were in middle school. She took us to a concession’s stand for burgers. My friend ordered right away and then her grandmother looked at me and asked what I wanted to eat. I felt my heart racing and I looked at the ground without answering. Her grandmother became impatient and asked again, so finally I replied with a whisper, “I want a hamburger.”
My heart was racing and my palms were starting to sweat. It got worse as she asked if I wanted cheese, and I shrugged my shoulders and said, “I don’t know.” She then yelled at me, so I nodded yes and continued looking at the ground as my best friend at the time laughed and mocked me. Looking back, I now understand that it was anxiety causing the excessive fear, and constant worrying that I experienced every single day of my young life.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder can be described as unreasonable anxiety that interferes with your everyday life. In the United States alone, GAD affects almost 7 million adults. In this mental state, you constantly worry about things such as your finances, employment, relationships, etc.
People with GAD find it more difficult to shake off anxiety than people who are not suffering from GAD. They cannot stop worrying even if they want to, and this interferes with the normal functioning of their life. There can be many things that cause you to develop GAD. Some examples are your genetics, brain chemistry, environmental factors, differences in the way threats are perceived, and development could lead to GAD.
Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
If you’re going through a difficult phase in your life, feeling more anxious than usual is normal. Not all excessive forms of anxiety are GADs, so how can we distinguish between GAD and other forms of anxiety? Here’s a list of symptoms that could help you identify GAD:
- Excessive and ongoing worrying: Your state of constant worrying has continued for weeks, months, or even longer. The state of continuous anxiety is interfering with your relationships, work, and everyday life.
- Overthinking: You start over-analyzing and thinking way too much about the outcomes of events. You automatically anticipate the worst to happen, even without any actual proof.
- Physical changes: You get startled easily. Sweaty palms, faster heart rate, trembling, breathing difficulties, heart palpitations, chest tightness, dizziness, etc. are all common physical indications of GAD.
- Indecisiveness: When you fear adverse outcomes, you have a hard time making decisions and sticking to them. You fear making the wrong choice, to avoid embarrassment or being judged.
- Difficulty concentrating: You find it extremely hard to focus on your work because of constant worrying. You feel overwhelmed by tasks, to the point that your mind goes blank, and it is tough to concentrate on anything.
Treatments
Dealing with Generalized Anxiety Disorder might feel intimidating for a lot of people. But effective treatments are available and have been proven to help by reducing a significant amount of anxiety. Your therapist may use a combination of these treatments to help you, depending on your symptoms.
Psychotherapy
If you suspect that you are suffering from GAD, it is highly advisable to reach out to a therapist. Therapists are well-equipped with different techniques and skills that can help you deal with your problems effectively and practically. This form of approach is very beneficial as it focuses on your thinking and negative thought patterns, which lead you to overthink. You talk with a professional therapist about your worries and concerns, and she teaches you coping mechanisms and different approaches you can use to deal with your incessant worrying.
Psychotherapists may use approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that teaches you how to identify your destructive thought patterns as they appear, and utilize CBT techniques. You can reframe the thought and replace it with a more rational approach. With practice, therapists teach you different elements to understand that most of your worries are exaggerated. It helps you learn to counter anxious thoughts more efficiently and realistically.
Medications
Your therapist may also refer you to a psychiatrist that may suggest a combination of psychotherapy and medications. The three most commonly prescribed types of anxiety medication are antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications (also known as anxiolytics), and beta-blockers. These medications can be used alone or alongside therapy to help you get maximum results. There are both short-term and long-term medications for GAD. Some of these medications may have side-effects and can become addictive with time. Therefore, always consult with your doctor before and while taking any such medications.
The first medication usually offered in the case of anxiety disorders are Selective Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This is a type of anti-depressant that works by increasing a chemical called serotonin in your brain. SSRIs may take weeks to start working, but they work well in the long run. Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro, etc. are common examples.
Benzodiazepines are sedatives that are commonly used as short-term treatments. These are used when a person experiences severe anxiety. They work fast and can ease the symptoms within 30 to 90 minutes.
To alleviate the physical symptoms that may follow an anxiety attack, Beta-Blockers and other types of drugs are used. First generation antihistamines are also used to manage symptoms of anxiety because they have a sedating effect.
Medications can help with anxiety symptoms, and it is always advisable to consult your doctor for the most accurate information on taking such drugs.
Lifestyle changes
Changes in your lifestyle are also an essential factor to take into consideration for long term relief. You can incorporate these practices to help with your anxiety:
- Exercising and staying physically active
- Eating healthy
- Mindfulness and Meditation
- Yoga
- Using Relaxation Techniques
- Socializing more with close relations etc.
- Quitting recreational drugs that induce anxiety symptoms
Conclusion
General Anxiety Disorder can be really tough to handle. But the good news is, there are many approaches that are practical, effective, and can help you manage anxiety symptoms. Interventions such as psychotherapy and medication have changed many lives, and this can help you too. If anxiety interferes with your everyday life to the point that it becomes unbearable, don’t hesitate to seek a therapist for help. It could turn out to be the biggest step you take towards living a healthier life.
Disclaimer
The contents of the Bell OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center (BOATC) Site, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the BOATC Site are for informational purposes only. Yes, I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California, but I’m not your therapist and this article does not create a therapist-client relationship. This article provides mental health information and should not be seen as professional advice. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your psychotherapist, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the BOATC Site.