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What is
Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
"I
just dread being alone at night. I don’t know why, but I do......"
"My
thoughts won’t shut off. They’re constantly running, making me worry, worry,
worry......"
"Will
I ever be my old self again?"
"I
can’t remember ever feeling relaxed and calm....What would that be like?"
"I’m
always on edge....."
"I
hate having to go to work anymore. I haven’t always been this way....."
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 there’s 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 isn’t an element of a "panic
attack" involved in the prognosis, either. It’s 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 -- something’s dreadfully wrong (after all, they’re ten
minutes late!), there’s 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 don’t charge more), but they do have a practice that is geared toward
the anxiety disorders.
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