When anxiety takes on a worse form and starts hindering your daily life, it can be categorized into a disorder. There are various forms of disorders, one such being generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD for short, it is also sometimes referred to as chronic anxiety neurosis. GAD is marked by unmanageable, exaggerated, and frequent anxiety about relatively simple occurrences.
Now some people might say that it is common to worry about trivial things in life, and while they are correct for the most part, people experiencing GAD worry about issues even when there is no reason to. Even worse, they just worry uncontrollably and do not really know what the cause of their stress is. It gets to the point where it starts interfering with their relationships and daily activities.
Signs of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
The symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder can vary from person to person. Here are some of the common symptoms which include:
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Constantly feeling restless, or on-edge
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Worrying out of proportion
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Trouble in concentrating
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Muscle tension
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Irritability
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Increased heart rate
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Sweating
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Headaches
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Sleeping issues
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Being easily exhausted
Causes of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
As of now, no exact cause for GAD has been identified, rather the amalgamation of various factors such as genetics, environment, and lifestyle is most likely the reason for the development of GAD in an individual.
Genetics
Some studies have pointed out the fact that family history contributes to the probability of a person experiencing GAD, although no anxiety genes have been medically identified yet.
Environment
Stressful experiences and trauma such as mental or physical abuse, family illness, etc, play a huge role in the development of GAD.
Lifestyle
The use of caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco is known to worsen anxiety. Withdrawal from the same substances also has detrimental effects on anxiety.
Treatments
When you get checked up for your anxiety, the medical care provider will first do some tests to identify any underlying illness since anxiety can also be associated with a thyroid disorder, heart disease, gastroesophageal reflux, or menopause. If no such medical issue is found, you will most probably be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist. Some common forms of treatment are:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
This is a form of talk therapy where the patient is encouraged to modify their complex thought pattern to a more relaxing one by looking at worries from a realistic point of view. Many have reported long-term anxiety relief with this approach of treatment.
Medication
Medications work for the short term as well as long term, oftentimes coupled with psychotherapy to provide the most effective results. They only work best when it comes to reducing symptoms and do not cure the disorder itself. Anti-anxiety, antidepressants, and beta-blockers are the most common classes of medications used to help with anxiety treatment.
Lifestyle changes
Various studies have reflected the effectiveness of a healthy lifestyle in the case of people experiencing anxiety. Small changes such as incorporating daily exercise or even a yoga session can visibly ease worries. Good sleep and a healthy diet also play vital roles when it comes to regulating one’s mood. Overall having a good routine will help a great deal in managing anxiety, one could also add the regular use of CBD oils in their routine. CBD oils are known for easing mood and helping with stress and anxiety, one can find a good range of trusted CBD oils on bellevuereporter.com that are known to help with anxiety.
Therefore, it is best to be on the lookout if one notices any of the above-mentioned symptoms repeatedly. With the increase in awareness around mental health, many people are now able to cope with GAD easily by opting for the stated treatments. If you are reluctant about talking it out with a professional then making lifestyle changes first would be the optimal choice, yet if the symptoms persist, consulting a mental health specialist is the best you can do for yourself.