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What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a normal part of living. It’s the body’s way of telling us something isn’t right. It keeps us from harm’s way and prepares us to act quickly in the face of danger. However, for some people, anxiety is persistent, irrational and overwhelming. It may get in the way of day-to-day activities andeven make them impossible. This may be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
The term “anxiety disorders” describes a group of conditions including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder (SAD) and specific phobias
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by persistent, excessive and unrealistic worry about everyday things. This worry goes on every day, possibly all day. People with GAD feel their worrying is beyond their control and can't be turned "off." They often expect the worst, even when there is no good reason for concern. Their excessive worrying is often about health, family, money or work. This worry is hard to control, and occurs on more days than not for at least six months. The unrelenting worry interferes with every day living and can affect all areas of life, including social, work/school and family.
Physical symptoms of GAD include:
Muscle tension; Fatigue; Restlessness; Difficulty sleeping; Irritability; Edginess; and/or Gastrointestinal discomfort or diarrhea.
How can GAD affect your life?
Generalized anxiety disorder can affect all areas of life, including social, work/school and family. According to a national survey conducted by the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), seven out of 10 people with GAD agreed that their chronic anxiety had an impact on their relations with spouses/significant others and two thirds reported that GAD had a negative effect on their friendships.
What causes GAD?
The exact cause of GAD is not known. Scientists believe that biological factors, family background and life experiences are all involved. And of course, we cannot forget about stress. Even the stress of positive events, such as buying a new house or gettingmarried, can trigger symptoms in individuals predisposed to GAD.
What treatments are available?
Fortunately, most individuals who seek treatment for GAD and other anxiety disorders see significant improvement and enjoy a better quality of life. A variety of treatment options exist including cognitive-
behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, anxiety management and medications. One, or a combination of these, may be recommended.
It is important to remember that there is no single “right” treatment. What works for one person may or may not be the best choice for someone else. A course of treatment should be tailored to your individual needs. Ask your doctor to explain why a particular type of treatment is being recommended, what other options are available and what you need to do to fully participate in your recovery.
”
Whether you have normal anxiety or an anxiety disorder, these strategies will help you cope:
Exercise.
Go for a walk or jog.
Do yoga.
Dance.
Just get moving!
Talk to someone …spouse, significant other, friend, child or therapist.
Keep a daily journal.
Become aware of what triggers your anxiety.
Eat a balanced diet. Don’t skip meals. Avoid caffeine which can trigger anxiety symptoms.
Yes or no? Are you troubled by:
~ Excessive worry, occurring more days than not, for at least 6 months?
~ Unreasonable worry about a number of different situations, such as work, school and/or health?
~ Your inability to control or “shut off” your worry?
Yes or no? Are you bothered by at least 3 of the following:
~ Restlessness, feeling keyed up or on edge?
~ Being easily tired?
~ Concentration problems?
~ Irritability?
~ Muscle tension?
~ Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or restless/unsatisfying sleep?
~ Anxiety that interferes with your daily life?
Yes or no? In the last year, have you experienced:
~ Changes in sleeping or eating habits?
~ Feeling sad or depressed more days than not?
~ A disinterest in life more days than not?
~ A feeling of worthlessness or guilt more days than not?
~ An inability to fulfill responsibilities at work/school or family due to alcohol or drug use?
~ A dangerous situation, such as driving under the influence, caused by alcohol or drug use?
~ Being arrested due to alcohol or drugs?
~ The need to continue using alcohol or drugs despite it causing problems
for you and/or your loved ones?
If you've answered "yes" to several of these questions, therapy may be able to help you.
Anxiety is a normal part of living. It’s the body’s way of telling us something isn’t right. It keeps us from harm’s way and prepares us to act quickly in the face of danger. However, for some people, anxiety is persistent, irrational and overwhelming. It may get in the way of day-to-day activities andeven make them impossible. This may be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
The term “anxiety disorders” describes a group of conditions including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder (SAD) and specific phobias
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by persistent, excessive and unrealistic worry about everyday things. This worry goes on every day, possibly all day. People with GAD feel their worrying is beyond their control and can't be turned "off." They often expect the worst, even when there is no good reason for concern. Their excessive worrying is often about health, family, money or work. This worry is hard to control, and occurs on more days than not for at least six months. The unrelenting worry interferes with every day living and can affect all areas of life, including social, work/school and family.
Physical symptoms of GAD include:
Muscle tension; Fatigue; Restlessness; Difficulty sleeping; Irritability; Edginess; and/or Gastrointestinal discomfort or diarrhea.
How can GAD affect your life?
Generalized anxiety disorder can affect all areas of life, including social, work/school and family. According to a national survey conducted by the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), seven out of 10 people with GAD agreed that their chronic anxiety had an impact on their relations with spouses/significant others and two thirds reported that GAD had a negative effect on their friendships.
What causes GAD?
The exact cause of GAD is not known. Scientists believe that biological factors, family background and life experiences are all involved. And of course, we cannot forget about stress. Even the stress of positive events, such as buying a new house or gettingmarried, can trigger symptoms in individuals predisposed to GAD.
What treatments are available?
Fortunately, most individuals who seek treatment for GAD and other anxiety disorders see significant improvement and enjoy a better quality of life. A variety of treatment options exist including cognitive-
behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, anxiety management and medications. One, or a combination of these, may be recommended.
It is important to remember that there is no single “right” treatment. What works for one person may or may not be the best choice for someone else. A course of treatment should be tailored to your individual needs. Ask your doctor to explain why a particular type of treatment is being recommended, what other options are available and what you need to do to fully participate in your recovery.
”
Whether you have normal anxiety or an anxiety disorder, these strategies will help you cope:
Exercise.
Go for a walk or jog.
Do yoga.
Dance.
Just get moving!
Talk to someone …spouse, significant other, friend, child or therapist.
Keep a daily journal.
Become aware of what triggers your anxiety.
Eat a balanced diet. Don’t skip meals. Avoid caffeine which can trigger anxiety symptoms.
Yes or no? Are you troubled by:
~ Excessive worry, occurring more days than not, for at least 6 months?
~ Unreasonable worry about a number of different situations, such as work, school and/or health?
~ Your inability to control or “shut off” your worry?
Yes or no? Are you bothered by at least 3 of the following:
~ Restlessness, feeling keyed up or on edge?
~ Being easily tired?
~ Concentration problems?
~ Irritability?
~ Muscle tension?
~ Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or restless/unsatisfying sleep?
~ Anxiety that interferes with your daily life?
Yes or no? In the last year, have you experienced:
~ Changes in sleeping or eating habits?
~ Feeling sad or depressed more days than not?
~ A disinterest in life more days than not?
~ A feeling of worthlessness or guilt more days than not?
~ An inability to fulfill responsibilities at work/school or family due to alcohol or drug use?
~ A dangerous situation, such as driving under the influence, caused by alcohol or drug use?
~ Being arrested due to alcohol or drugs?
~ The need to continue using alcohol or drugs despite it causing problems
for you and/or your loved ones?
If you've answered "yes" to several of these questions, therapy may be able to help you.
Disclaimer: The contents of this site and all the pages herein are intended for informational purposes only and are subject to change without notice at any time. None of the information in this site is intended to be taken as medical direction or advice, therapeutic, legal, or otherwise. This is not a replacement for professional services. At no time does use of this site nor communication through this site constitute a therapeutic relationship between the user and therapist. Keri M. Zwerner, MA, LMFT and LifeHealingHeart assume no liability for the content of this site or damages that may result from use, reference to, reliance on, or decisions resulting from its use. Use of this site establishes your consent to the provisions of this disclaimer. Copyright 2006. All rights reserved
