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Generalized anxiety disorder is a relatively common anxiety
problem, affecting 3-4% of the population, that turns daily life
into a state of worry, anxiety, and fear. Excessive thinking and
dwelling on the "what ifs" characterizes this anxiety disorder. As
a result, the person feels theres no way out of the vicious cycle
of anxiety and worry, and then becomes depressed about life and the
state of anxiety they find themselves in.
Generalized anxiety usually does not cause people to avoid
situations, and there isnt an element of a "panic attack" involved
in the prognosis, either. Its the thinking, thinking, thinking,
dwelling, dwelling, ruminating, ruminating, and inability to shut
the mind off that so incapacitates the person. At other times,
thoughts seem almost non-existent because the anxious feelings are
so dominant. Feelings of worry, dread, lack of energy, and a loss
of interest in life are common. Many times there is no "trigger" or
"cause" for these feelings and the person realizes these feelings
are irrational. Nevertheless, the feelings are very real. At this
point, there is no "energy" or "zest" in life and no desire to want
to do much.
This emotional fear and worry can be quite strong. If a loved one
is ten minutes late, the person with generalized anxiety fears the
very worst -- somethings dreadfully wrong (after all, theyre ten
minutes late!), theres been an accident, the paramedics are taking
the person to the hospital and his injuries are just too critical
to resuscitate him....."Oh, my God!.....WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?"
Feelings of fear and anxiety rush in from these thoughts, and the
vicious cycle of anxiety and depression runs wild.
Some people with generalized anxiety have fluctuations in mood from
hour to hour, whereas others have "good days" and "bad days".
Others do better in the morning, and others find it easier at the
end of the day. These anxiety feelings and moods feed on
themselves, leading the person to continue in the pattern of worry
and anxiety -- unless something powerful breaks it up.
Physical manifestations of generalized anxiety may include
headaches, trembling, twitching, irritability, frustration, and
inability to concentrate. Sleep disturbances may also occur.
Elements of social phobia and/or panic may sometimes be present,
such as high levels of self-consciousness in some situations, and
fear of not being able to escape from enclosed spaces.
It is also common, but not universal, for people with generalized
anxiety to experience other problems, such as a quickness to
startle from it, a lack of ability to fully relax, and the
propensity to be in a state of constant motion. It is difficult for
some people with generalized anxiety to settle down enough to have
a quiet, reflective time where they can calm down, relax, and feel
some peace and tranquility. Strategies to peacefully calm down and
relax are one part in overcoming this problem.
Normal life stresses aggravate generalized anxiety. The person who
typically performs well at work and receives a sense of
accomplishment from it, all of a sudden finds that work has become
drudgery. If work is perceived as a negative environment, and the
person no longer feels fulfilled, then considerable worry takes
place over these situations. As a result, the anticipatory anxiety
about going to work can become quite strong.
Generalized anxiety has been shown to respond best to
cognitive-behavioral therapy, an active therapy that involves more
than just talking to a therapist. In CBT, the person gradually
learns to see situations and problems in a different perspective
and learns the methods and techniques to use to alleviate and
reduce anxiety. Sometimes medication is a helpful adjunct to
therapy, but for many people it is not necessary. Research
indicates that generalized anxiety is fully treatable and can be
successfully overcome over the course of about three to four months
if the person is motivated and works toward recovery.
Generalized anxiety must be chipped away from all sides and that is
what CBT is designed to do. No one has to live with generalized
anxiety disorder......treatment for GAD has been shown to be both
effective and successful.
Please seek a therapist who understands anxiety and the anxiety
disorders. Remember, that just because a person has a degree behind
their name, does not mean they understand and can treat an anxiety
disorder. Feel free to ask questions of any professional and make
sure your therapist understands and knows how to treat generalized
anxiety. It is usually a good idea to see a specialist in this area
(they dont charge more), but they do have a practice that is
geared toward the anxiety disorders.