What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Feeling anxious or worried from time to time is an integral part of human nature, especially in face of stressful conditions. However, if persistent and excessive worry is experienced regarding various things without any particular reason, it hints towards having generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). 

According to ADAA if a person struggles with controlling worry and anxiety for more than 6 months and has three or more symptoms, they are experiencing a generalized anxiety disorder. 

Individuals experiencing GAD tend to over concern themselves with basic day-to-day tasks. They tend to expect the worse outcome and often find themselves in a position of hopelessness without any significant reason.

 Signs and symptoms

Here are some signs and symptoms that can help to identify GAD:

1. Constant worrying

A persistent feeling of being unsafe or being “on the edge” is one of the most characteristic signs of GAD.

2. Fatigue and muscle tension

Physical symptoms like high muscle tension are seen that can cause muscles to fatigue rapidly while exerting.

3. Nervousness and Restlessness   

Individuals having GAD can look quite nervous all the time. They find it hard to concentrate and appear as being “jumpy” 

4. Palpitations and Chest pain

In long standing GAD, people can have symptoms like palpitations and even chest pain (in severe cases)

5. Sleep disturbances 

A person with GAD may have irregular sleep patterns and may wake up multiple times at night due to nightmares.

Possible causes of GAD

1. Psychological and behavioral causes

Thinking of a person is the center point of these causes. To further elaborate let’s go into detail about these causes:

1. All-or-nothing mindset: Putting too much pressure on oneself to do something perfectly. Anything below perfect is deemed as a failure.

2.  Low self-esteem: Blaming and undermining one’s own self constantly.

3. Always thinking about the worst-case scenario: Individuals who always think about worst-case scenarios also often end up having GAD.

4. Use of substance: Excessive and regular consumption of alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco (smoking) has been linked with GAD.

2. Medical causes

Several medical disorders like IBD, Asthma, Hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, etc. can cause GAD and the best thing to do is to get checked by a physician if there is a chance of medical cause of GAD.

Is there any cure for generalized anxiety disorder?

Do not compare GAD with conditions like cold or fever that go away after 1 week of medication. Just like other psychiatric disorders, there’s more “containment than cure” possible for GAD.

 Some possible strategies you can use include: limiting the use of stimulants, learning relaxation techniques, developing healthy coping mechanisms, etc.

 To conclude, the best thing one can do to manage GAD is to take the help of a professional. They may prescribe medication or do counseling in a way that suits a person with GAD the most. Both of which may be vital for treating GAD.

References

Bandelow, B. et al. (2013) ‘Generalisierte Angststörung: Diagnostik und Therapie’, Deutsches Arzteblatt International, 110(17), pp. 300–310. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2013.0300.

Gabbard, G. O. (2014) Gabbard’s Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders, Gabbard’s Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders. American Psychiatric Publishing. doi: 10.1176/appi.books.9781585625048.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Symptoms, Signs, Causes & Treatment (no date). Available at: https://www.medicinenet.com/generalized_anxiety_disorder_symptoms_and_signs/symptoms.htm (Accessed: 11 June 2021).

(No Title) (no date). Available at: https://www.psychiatrist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/13706_generalized-anxiety-disorder-nature-course.pdf (Accessed: 11 June 2021).

Generalized anxiety disorder. – PsycNET (no date). Available at: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2008-11035-003 (Accessed: 11 June 2021).

Top 10 mental illness signs you shouldn’t ignore

Have you ever felt “off” for more than usual and thought to yourself “Screw it! I will feel okay when I feel okay.” If you have, then let me tell this is exactly the type of attitude that can seriously deteriorate your mental health. In this article are mentioned Top 10 mental illness signs you shouldn’t ignore. If you have even a single sign out of this list, you should pay more attention to your mental health as it is unwise to ignore even the smallest mental illness sign. However, before we start, remember that in case you are experiencing any one of the mental illness signs mentioned in the following text, it isn’t the end of the world. With adequate help and proper guidance, everything is manageable.

1) Intense sadness

If you are feeling sad due to the loss of a loved one or a serious breakup, it is absolutely natural. Feeling sad is an integral part of human nature. However, if you have been feeling intense sadness for a considerable amount of time (usually more than 2 weeks) then that raises a red flag. Just like other emotions sadness is supposed to go away after a while but if it clings on for too long, you should consider the possibility of some underlying problem and act accordingly.

2) Extreme mood swings

Be it as a result of our crush ignoring us or seeing the faces of ungrateful bosses, we all have a fair share of mood swings in daily life. Having occasional, short lived mood swings is harmless, but if you feel like a racing comet at one moment and a cry baby at the very next one, maybe it’s time to take a step back and evaluate the situation.

3) Constant anxiety

Constant anxiety is one of the most common mental illness signs. Let’s discuss in detail what I mean by that. If you are in a constant state of worry, and you think anxiously about even the minutest of problems then that qualifies as persistent anxiety. Think about it like this. Generally, you wouldn’t be too bothered about traffic, but if you have an underlying illness related to high anxiety , you might over concern yourself with thoughts like “what if traffic is jammed and I get late?” or “I am doomed if I get late due to traffic” etc. 

4) Bouts of anger

Have you ever known someone who reminds you of a fire spitting dragon when they talk to you? My suggestion to you will be to go easy on them. They probably are facing a mental health problem and they may not even know it. Expressing anger occasionally is not a point for concern but frequent and extreme outbursts of anger are usually an indication that something is wrong. You may feel agitated at even the most minor of inconveniences. If that is the case you should consult a professional or look into anger management. Otherwise, it may affect your mental health adversely in the long run. 

5) Isolation

Everyone struggling with grief or any other loss in life deserves to take a break from normal routine. You may want to stay home rolled up on your couch instead of spending a typically “lit” Friday night and that is totally your choice. However, if you find yourself in a situation where you consistently find excuses to avoid even your closest friends and family, then you may be struggling with some mental health problem that requires attention.

6) Difficulty performing daily tasks

When an individual has an underlying mental health condition, they can seem to struggle with even the most mundane tasks. Under such circumstances, going to work or even paying the bills can seem like a lot. If you have noticed such change in your life lately, under no circumstance is it acceptable to simply ignore it.

7) Irregular sleep patterns

People often think that individuals with mental health issues sleep related complain staring at the fan. Although there might be some truth to it, insomnia isn’t the only sleep related complain seen in these people. If you have been sleeping like a sloth lately or if you get up several times a night, you may unknowingly be struggling with some mental illness.  

8) Hallucinations, delusions and nightmares

Mental illness often manifests as visual, auditory or some other hallucinations. People also often complain of nightmares while sleeping. Typically, while experiencing mental illness, you may counter abnormal sensations. If you often feel like “someone quickly ran away from the side” or “I heard someone talk and they suddenly vanished” you may have what are called hallucinations. In face of such problems, it is vital for you to reach out for proper management.

9) Stomach pain and loss of appetite

Stomach pain and loss of appetite are two of the most characteristic signs of major depression. One thing to note is that some people respond to depression by eating recklessly. So, if you fall into that category, do not invalidate that. 

10) Suicidal thoughts

When mental illness reaches its peak, one of the most common signs to occur is occurrence of suicidal thoughts. In case you have suicidal thoughts or you want to harm yourself, immediately seek professional help.

Conclusion

Mental health is something that should not be taken lightly. Although the symptoms usually do not appear clearly to the common eye, mental illness can affect our lives in several major ways. However, do not panic if you have any of the above signs. The best thing for you to do is to see a therapist and apply some strategies in life that can help you cope with everyday situations. Also, note that if any of the above sign appears, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have mental illness. The sign and symptoms may occur due to excessive stress or some major changes in life.     

References

12 signs of mental health illness you should not ignore-Health News , Firstpost (no date). Available at: https://www.firstpost.com/health/12-signs-of-mental-health-illness-you-should-not-ignore-7474271.html (Accessed: 15 June 2021).

Depression vs. Sadness: What’s the Difference? (no date). Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/depression-vs-sadness (Accessed: 15 June 2021).

Gabbard, G. O. (2014) Gabbard’s Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders, Gabbard’s Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders. American Psychiatric Publishing. doi: 10.1176/appi.books.9781585625048.

Hartono, J. L., Mahadeva, S. and Goh, K. L. (2012) ‘Anxiety and depression in various functional gastrointestinal disorders: Do differences exist?’, Journal of Digestive Diseases, 13(5), pp. 252–257. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-2980.2012.00581.x.

Mental Health Disorders and Suicide – SAVE (no date). Available at: https://save.org/about-suicide/mental-illness-and-suicide/ (Accessed: 15 June 2021).

Mental Illness and Anger | HealthyPlace (no date). Available at: https://www.healthyplace.com/other-info/mental-health-newsletter/mental-illness-and-anger (Accessed: 15 June 2021).

Sleep disorders and mental illness go hand in hand | Brain | UT Southwestern Medical Center (no date). Available at: https://utswmed.org/medblog/sleep-disorders-mental-illness/ (Accessed: 15 June 2021).

What Is Anger & It’s Effects on Mental Health | headspace (no date). Available at: https://headspace.org.au/young-people/what-is-anger-and-its-effects-on-mental-health/ (Accessed: 15 June 2021).