Generalized Anxiety Disorder:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is defined by persistent and excessive worry about a wide range of issues. Depressed people from GAD may be overly worried about money, health, family, work, or other issues.

The people who suffer from this have a difficult time attempting to control their anxiety. They may be concerned about actual history or may presume the very worst even though they have no reason to be anxious.

A diagnosis of GAD is made when a person has three or more symptoms and has difficulty controlling fear on most days for at least six months.

Prevalence of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

GAD is a common condition that affects up to 5% of the UK population. Women are slightly more affected than men, and the condition is more common in people aged 35 to 59. The prevalence of depression is also similar to GAD. More people seek Psychiatric help now-a-days. In Pakistan most people for best psychiatrist in Lahore.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms:

 GAD Symptoms can vary. They are grouped in two major categories; Psychological and physical Symptoms

 Psychological Symptoms

• Persistent worry or anxiety about a variety of issues that is out of proportion to the severity of the events
• Overthinking plans and solutions for all possibility worst-case situations
• Perceiving cases and events as dangerous even when they are not Difficulty dealing with uncertainty
• Fear of making the wrong decision and lack of direction
• Inability to put a worry this apart or release it
• Inability to relax, restlessness, and a sense of being tense or on edge
• Difficulty focusing or the sensation that your mind “goes blank”

Some Physical Symptoms

• Tiredness
• Sleeping problems
• Muscle tenseness or aches
• Trembling and twitching
• Anxiousness or the capacity to be quickly shocked
• Sweating
• Irritable bowel syndrome, nausea, and diahorrea
• Irritability

There may be times when your worries do not consume you completely, but you can still feel anxiety symptoms for no apparent reason.

For example, you may be concerned about your own or your loved ones’ safety.

You may have a general sense that something bad is about to happen.

You can experience significant distress as a result of your worry, anxiety or GAD symptoms in social, work, or other areas of your life. Worries can shift from one to the next and change with time and age.

When Should I consult a psychiatrist?

You think you are worrying excessively, which itself is getting involved with your work, relationships, or Other aspects of your daily life.

Individuals are depressed or upset, have problems with alcohol or drugs, or have other disorders of mental health in along with anxiety symptoms.

If you are possessing suicidal thoughts and behaviors, aim emergency immediate GAD treatment. Depression and anxiety can occur simultaneously. Don’t confuse with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Depression is the natural response to loss. While anxiety is natural response to threat

Generalized anxiety causes:

 Generalized anxiety disorder causes, like many other mental health conditions. It is most likely caused by a complex interaction of biological and environmental factors.

• Neurotransmitters are naturally occurring brain and function differences
• Genetics
• Differences in how threats are perceived
• Personality and development
• Depression and other mental illnesses

 Health problems in Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorder can be discomforting.

• Because you have trouble focusing, you will be unable to complete tasks quickly and effectively.
• Take your time and deflect your focus away from other operations.
• Your power will be depleted.
• Increase your probabilities of depression and anxiety.

 Generalized anxiety disorder can also lead to or aggravate other physical health problems, such as:

• Irritable bowel syndrome and abscesses are examples of digestive or bowel problems.
• Migraines and headaches
• Illness and chronic pain
• Insomnia and sleep disorders
• Problems with the heart
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• frequently interacts with other mental health issues.
• making diagnosis and treatment more difficult.

 Other Mental Illnesses That co-occur with this disorder

• Phobias
• Other anxiety disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (PTSD)
• Obsessive-compulsive syndrome (OCD)
• Depression
• Suicidal ideation or suicide
• Drug abuse

 How Generalized anxiety disorder is Treated?

 GAD can have a significant impact on your daily life, but there are several treatments available to help relieve your symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder.

 Medications

The following drugs, among others, are used to treat generalized anxiety disorder. Discuss the advantages, disadvantages, and any side effects with your doctor.

 Antidepressants:

The first-line drug therapies are antidepressants, which include drugs in the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) families. Antidepressants like citalopram (Lexapro), duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor XR), and paroxetine are examples of medications used to treat generalized anxiety disorder (Paxil, Pexeva). Other antidepressants may also be suggested by your physician.

 Buspirone:

Buspirone is an anti-anxiety drug that can be continuously taken. It normally takes a few weeks for it to start working effectively, much like the majority of antidepressant do.

 Benzodiazepines:

 Your doctor might, under some conditions, recommend a benzodiazepine to treat your anxiety disorders. These sedatives are often only used to treat acute anxiety disorder on a temporary basis.

These drugs shouldn’t be used if you now have or ever had issues with alcohol or drug abuse because they have the potential to become behavior.

Psychological interventions

 You can get psychological therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). You do not need a consultation and you can refer yourself for psychological therapies service in your area.

Many people can control their anxiety disorder with treatment. However, some treatments may need to be continued for a long duration of time, and your symptoms may aggravate at times.

Generalized anxiety disorder self-help (GAD):

You can also do many things on your own to help to reduce your anxiety disorder, such as:

• taking an ego course
• regular physical activity
• stopping cigarettes
• reducing your amount of alcohol and caffeine
• Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and muscle relaxation
• Don’t argue with negative thoughts. Let the thoughts come
• Don’t pay much focus on physical symptoms

Domestic remedies:

These lifestyles are also helpful:

• Start exercising
• a balanced diet
• Getting sufficient sleep Staying away from caffeine
• avoiding drugs and booze
• Meditation
• relaxing techniques, such as deep breathing.

A person is diagnosed with GAD when they have three or more symptoms, and find it difficult to control their fear on most days, for a period of six months or more. A diagnosis of GAD is made when a person has three or more symptoms and has difficulty controlling fear on most days for at least six months.