Why does it happen?
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable, and often irrational worry about everyday things.
It is estimated that about 3% of the population has Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Various factors, including genetics, trauma, or life events, can cause the disorder.
It is also possible that a combination of these factors causes it. Generalized Anxiety Disorder can make it challenging to complete tasks and enjoy life to the fullest because the person constantly worries about something.
What are the Types of Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States.
They are characterized by feelings of worry, nervousness, or fear that interferes with daily life.
The types of anxiety disorders vary depending on the symptoms and how long they last.
The three main types of anxiety disorders are
- generalized anxiety disorder,
- social anxiety disorder,
- and panic disorder.
Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive worry about multiple things for at least six months.
Social anxiety disorder is characterized by a fear of social situations where one may be judged or embarrassed in front of others.
Panic disorder is characterized by sudden feelings of terror that can develop without warning and peak within minutes before subsiding as quickly as they come on.
Some signs of anxiety:
- Tense muscles, shaking
- Feeling restless or tense
- Tachodynia, or a fast heartbeat
- Breathing quickly or with difficulty, dyspnea
- Stomach upset
- Having trouble paying attention
- Headache
- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- I can’t fall asleep or stay asleep.
Some Symptoms of Anxiety and Treatments
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is an anxiety-related disorder. It is characterized by a fear of being in places or situations where escape might be difficult or help may not be available if panic symptoms occur.
There are many treatments for Agoraphobia, depending on the individual’s needs and wants.
The most common treatments are psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, medication, and self-help techniques.
One of the most popular things people do is exposure therapy, which involves gradually exposing yourself to what scares you the most – in this case, public places or open spaces – until it no longer bothers you.
Agoraphobia is a severe condition that can significantly impact someone’s life. It can lead to isolation and depression.
With the proper treatment, however, you can live a whole life with minimal symptoms of Agoraphobia.
Social anxiety
Social phobia (Social anxiety) is a common mental health condition affecting people from all walks of life.
It can be hard to know where to start when it comes to treating social anxiety, but there are a few things you can do to help.
The first thing you should do is find out if you have social anxiety or not. A good way of doing this is by checking the symptoms below and seeing if any apply to you.
If you think your symptoms are due to social anxiety and not another disorder, then it’s time to visit your doctor!
What is social anxiety?
Social anxiety is the fear of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated in a social or performance situation.
It is a type of anxiety that involves a person’s thoughts and feelings about social problems.
The three types of treatment for social anxiety disorder are medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and exposure therapy.
Medication is the most common treatment option prescribed by doctors. It can help to reduce the symptoms and severity of social anxiety in some patients.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
OCD is an anxiety disorder that causes people to have thoughts that make them anxious.
People with obsessive-compulsive disorder often fear getting sick, making mistakes, or doing something terrible.
They will wash their hands until they are raw or check the stove a dozen times before leaving the house.
Obsessing things like this can take up a lot of time and energy and make it hard to function normally in school, work, or relationships.
The symptoms of OCD in children can be different in adults. This is because the child’s brain is still developing.
A child with OCD may have difficulty adjusting to new routines or changes in the family, such as a new baby.
They may also experience problems with schoolwork and peer relationships.
Symptoms of OCD in children can differ in adults because the child’s brain is still developing.
One of the most common treatments for OCD is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps people change their negative thoughts and behaviors by changing how they react to them.
Panic disorder
This disorder is a mental health condition that affects the body’s “fight or flight” response system.
Panic attacks are sudden feelings of terror, fear, or impending doom. These attacks may cause physical symptoms, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, and tingling in the hands and feet.
People with panic disorder usually have recurring episodes of intense anxiety in which they feel a sense of impending doom coupled with physical symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness.
There are many treatment options for panic disorder, including therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes such as exercise and dieting.
Atychiphobia
Atychiphobia, also known as the Fear of Failure, is an anxiety disorder characterized by a persistent and unreasonable fear of making mistakes.
It can be triggered by public speaking, meeting new people, or taking tests.
The word “atychiphobia” was coined in the early 20th century from the Greek words “ατυχής” (which means “failure”) and φόβος (which means “fear”).
It’s been said that atychiphobia stems from a person’s desire to avoid any situation where they may experience failure.
This phobia can also be linked to one’s fear of humiliation or shame.
The first step to overcoming this fear is to identify the root cause.
This is usually an irrational thought process that needs to be identified and challenged.
Once the root cause has been identified, it should be addressed systematically.
This will involve identifying the triggers for these thoughts and then challenging them through exposure therapy or other treatment methods.
What to Expect at the Office of Your Doctor
Your doctor or someone who helps with mental health will talk to you about the signs and symptoms of anxiety when and how you feel anxious.
Your doctor will ask you about your health history and do a physical exam.
They may also take blood or urine samples for lab tests. An electrocardiogram (EKG) is sometimes done to rule out heart problems.
You might be asked to fill out a questionnaire about your mind.
person must meet all of the following to be given a GAD diagnosis:
- Too much worry or anxiety most days for at least 6 months.
Anxiety that:
- have three or more of the following symptoms: restlessness, fatigue, irritability, trouble concentrating, muscle tension, or trouble sleeping.
- gets in the way of your everyday life
- isn’t caused by another mental illness, like a panic attack
- isn’t caused by something physical, like substance abuse,
Choices for treatments
The best way to treat anxiety depends on what’s making it. If you have a health problem that has been going on for a while, your doctor will treat it.
If your anxiety isn’t caused by anything physical, your doctor may suggest you go to counseling to learn how to deal with stress and solve problems.
A study review done in 2007 found that cognitive behavioral therapy helped treat GAD when it was used.
In cognitive behavioral therapy, you learn how to change or eliminate negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones.
Your doctor may also suggest you try deep breathing or other ways to calm down. Your doctor may sometimes give you medicine to help you until you learn these skills.
Uses of Drugs
Prescription
• Benzodiazepines. A group of drugs that help people feel less anxious and make them sleepy.
They work quickly, but some people get hooked on them, so they are usually only given for a short time.
They might make you feel sleepy, bloated, or sick. If you have narrow-angle glaucoma, psychosis, or are pregnant, DO NOT take these drugs.
Benzodiazepines include Alprazolam (Xanax), Chlordiazepoxide (Librium), Clonazepam (Klonopin), Diazepam (Valium), and Lorazepam (Ativan).
• Buspirone (BuSpar). A medicine for anxiety that doesn’t make you sleepy or make you dependent on it.
But you must take it for two weeks before feeling any difference.
Some side effects include sleeplessness, anxiety, dizziness, a sour stomach, nausea, diarrhea, and headaches.
• Antidepressants.
A group of drugs that work on the same chemicals in the brain that are thought to play a role in anxiety.
Duloxetine (Cymbalta), Escitalopram (Lexapro), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Paroxetine (Paxil), and Venlafaxine are all antidepressants that are sometimes used to treat anxiety (Effexor).
• Drugs that stop selective serotonin reuptake (SSRIs).
A review of studies examining how well anxiety drugs were tolerated and how well they worked found that SSRIs were clearly better than placebos, with a response rate almost twice as high.
Sertraline, Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Citalopram, and Paroxetine are all SSRIs that are sometimes used to treat anxiety.
Therapies that aren’t drugs or surgery
Mind-body techniques, healthy eating, exercise, and herbs may all help reduce anxiety.
Progressive muscle relaxation, diaphragmatic breathing, biofeedback, meditation, and self-hypnosis can all help you relax and reduce stress.
Aromatherapy, music therapy, and visual imagery may also help people feel less anxious.
Exercise
Several studies have found that exercise helps reduce depression, and at least one study from 2007 found that regular, intense exercise, like running or playing football, can also help with anxiety.
Up to 5 years of benefits were given.
Nutrition
Even though no diet will make you feel less anxious, eating healthy meals keeps your body well-fed and robust.
Caffeine can make you feel antsy, so you should avoid it. Don’t drink alcohol or smoke, either.
Eat more fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Keep your blood sugar level steady by eating small, healthy meals often.
These meals should include protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats.
Herbs
Herbs have been used for a long time to strengthen the body and treat illness.
On the other hand, it can cause side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications.
Because of these things, you should only take herbs with the help of a healthcare provider.
If you are already taking medicine for anxiety, you should talk to your doctor before taking herbs.
Some herbs that are used to treat anxiety can interact with drugs that are used to treat anxiety.
• Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
It is a herb that is sometimes used to treat anxiety and insomnia, even though there isn’t a lot of proof that it works.
Some studies show valerian helps reduce anxiety, but one study found valerian was no better than a placebo at reducing social stress.
Valerian is often used to treat mild to moderate pressure in combination with lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) or St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum).
Valerian may interact with other drugs that make you sleepy, like benzodiazepines, barbiturates, narcotics, antidepressants, and antihistamines.
If you are pregnant or nursing, DON’T take valerian. If you have problems with your liver, you shouldn’t take valerian.
St. John’s Wort can change how other drugs, like antidepressants, birth control, or other medicines, work.
If you are pregnant or nursing, you should not take St. John’s Wort. Talk to your doctor before taking St. John’s Wort with other medicines.
• Passionfruit (Passiflorine incarnate).
A few studies showed that passionflower helped relieve anxiety and some benzodiazepines.
But more research needs to be done to determine if passionflower works.
Passionflower may interact with other drugs that make you sleepy, like benzodiazepines, barbiturates, narcotics, antidepressants, and antihistamines.
• Kava kava (Piper methysticum)
It is sometimes recommended for mild to moderate anxiety, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned about how it affects the liver.
In rare cases, people have gotten terrible liver damage. Before you take kava, talk to your doctor, and don’t take it for more than a few days.
Ginger
Zingiber officinalis, chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), and licorice are a few other herbs that are sometimes recommended for anxiety
And Ginger can make you more likely to bleed, especially if you also take blood thinners like Plavix, Coumadin, or aspirin.
It may also interact with some medicines used to treat high blood pressure.
licorice
You should avoid licorice if you have heart failure, heart disease, kidney or liver disease, or high blood pressure.
If you take a diuretic (water pill), an anticoagulant (blood thinner), or an antidepressant like Prozac,
DO NOT take licorice.
Chamomile
It might not work well with some medicines, like blood thinners.
People who have or are at risk for cancers like breast, uterine, ovarian, or prostate cancer, which are affected by hormones, should not take chamomile.
Chamomile could cause allergies in some people.
Lemon balm
Bergamot and jasmine all have calming essential oils that can be used in aromatherapy.
Put a few drops in a warm bath, on a cotton ball, or in an atomizer.
Homeopathy
Even though not many studies have looked at the effectiveness of specific homeopathic therapies, professional homeopaths may use the following treatments for anxiety based on their knowledge and experience.
Before giving someone medicine, homeopaths look at their “constitutional type,” which includes their physical, emotional, and mental makeup.
When figuring out the best treatment for each person, an experienced homeopath looks at all these things.
• Aconitum
For anxiety that causes fast or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, or a fear of dying.
• Arsenicum album
For a lot of anxiety that doesn’t seem to have a clear cause and makes you restless, mainly after midnight. It can also be used for people who try to do everything perfectly, like children who worry about everything.
• Phosphorus
For a feeling of impending doom and anxiety when they are alone. It can also be used for adults and kids who are easily affected by the fear of others.
• Lycopodium
For performance anxiety and other types of anxiety in people with low self-esteem who try to hide it by being arrogant and cocky.
It may also help kids who wet the bed because of fear.
• Gelsemium
For anxiety about giving a performance that causes diarrhea, headaches, dizziness, weakness, shakiness, trembling, or trouble speaking.
• Argentum nitricum
For performance anxiety in school-aged children, such as before a test, with a fast heart rate, feeling faint, diarrhea, or gas.
Acupuncture
There is some evidence that acupuncture may help reduce anxiety symptoms, especially when it is combined with behavioral therapies like psychotherapy.
One study showed that the benefits of treatment could last for up to a year after it was over.
Acupuncturists treat people with anxiety by looking at how much qi is in each of the body’s meridians and how much is missing.
When someone is anxious, a lack of qi is often found in the kidney or spleen meridians.
Acupuncturists may use more than just needles to treat patients. They may also use breathing techniques, herbs, and changes in diet.
Medicine for the mind and body
Anxiety and stress can be eased with a therapeutic massage. Early studies also show that meditation, yoga, and other mind-body therapies may help reduce anxiety.
I strongly suggest that you read my article about HERBAL REMEDIES FOR FATIGUE SYNDROME
Keeping in Touch
Follow what your doctor or nurse tells you to do. Use relaxation techniques when you need to.
Things to think about
If you are pregnant, you should tell your doctor or nurse. Call your doctor if you have any serious side effects from the medicines you are taking.
DO NOT take kava kava, valerian, and St. John’s wort if you are pregnant or nursing.
source
Francesca Coltrera, Editor, Harvard Health Blog
