Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Chronic Anxiety Disorder, also called Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), is characterized by excessive Worry and tension (anxiety) over events or life in general – or maybe nothing – over an extended period and occurring on more days than not. The person suffering with this condition is unable to stop the thoughts and feelings and will experience three of more of the following symptoms:
- Muscle tension
- Irritability
- A restless feeling or the feeling of being on edge
- Fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping, or not sleeping well
- A hard time concentrating, with the mind simply going blank at times
He or she might also experience physical symptoms like chronic stomach aches, nausea, gagging, vomiting or bowel problems such as spastic colon or irritable bowel syndrome.
How Common Is Chronic Anxiety Disorder?
According to Wikipedia, about 3.1% of Americans over the age of 18 are diagnosed with this condition every year. Canada and some Western European countries report similar findings. (These figures do not, of course, include those who are diagnosed with what is actually a secondary condition caused by anxiety: Depression.)
Considering that many of those diagnosed continue to suffer from it, either because they didn’t follow up, became disenchanted with the medical or other treatment they received or just didn’t do anything about it at all, the numbers add up. In fact, the actual percentage of adults suffering from chronic Anxiety Problems could conceivably reach 20% or more. Who knows? Either way, it’s extremely common, with people experiencing it to varying degrees.
How Do People Treat Their Chronic Anxiety?
Most people who suffer with this problem will find if they visit a medical doctor, they will be given a prescription for antidepressants or anti-anxiety medicines. While these may relieve symptoms somewhat, they will not cure anything and they may carry a high price tag in side effects. And if the doctor prescribes anti-anxiety meds like benzodiazepines, the price could be higher: addiction, and eventually serious withdrawal problems. Withdrawal from “benzos” can last for months, even if it was taken only as prescribed.
Another significant number of sufferers will turn to self-medication, usually with alcohol. They may or may not have been to a doctor and tried prescription medicines, which often only work for a short period and need to be increased or replaced with another prescription. Either way, this is not a good long-term strategy. It may also result in dependency or addiction and eventually destroy a person’s life.
Medication, whether prescription or self-medicating, will never cure any form of anxiety disorder, it will only control symptoms. Chronic anxiety disorder – or any anxiety disorder – is not a medical issue that can be eliminated with any chemical at this time. It’s a psychological and emotional issue.
The tendency toward developing an anxiety disorder or a low threshold for stress may be genetic – the jury’s still out on that question – but the ultimate cause of these disorders is an inadvertent training of the brain and the emotional response to stress that brings about a misguided fight or flight response. This then triggers the release of adrenaline into the system, causing the symptoms.
Those who have successfully treated their chronic anxiety disorder have done so by re-training their brains and their responses to stressors. They’ve changed their outlook on life to rid themselves of the anxiety, not the other way around.
The method of doing this that seems to bring the best results is called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Some sufferers seek out professional practitioners for help with this therapy – counselors or psychologists. Others find guidance through programs or books found on the Internet or in book stores that can help them make these behavioral changes in the privacy of their homes. An advantage of these products is that most are written by former anxiety sufferers who have actually used the techniques they teach.
There is help available for chronic anxiety disorder and it’s not that difficult to cure, so a person doesn’t have to continue through life with the frustrating feelings, thoughts and symptoms, wishing it would just go away.
Owen Johnson is an expert on Anxiety Disorders and is a survivor of Chronic Anxiety. If you or someone you love suffers from Chronic Anxiety Disorder or any other form of anxiety visit http://helpwithanxietydisorder.com and be sure to sign up for the informative mini-course.
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder? (GAD #1)
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