Re: Spinning out of control with General Anxiety Disorder

[Guest guest]

Lorazepam (generic ativan) is an anti-anxiety med that helps me. I've

been using it at a low dose for about 10 years now. It's part of

my " arsenal " for coping with various annoying and debilitating aspects

of FMS/CFIDS -

http://www.fms-help.com/what.htm

Dominie

>> Spinning Out of Control With GAD

>

> Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive,

> recurrent, and prolonged anxiety and worrying. People with

> generalized anxiety disorder typically agonize over everyday

> concerns, such as job responsibilities, finances, health, or family

> well-being or even such minor matters as household chores, car

> repairs, being late for appointments, or personal appearance. The

> focus of anxiety may shift frequently from one concern to another,

> and sensations may vary from mild tension and nervousness to feelings

> of dread.

[Guest guest]

I understand. Besides anxiety, I've suffered with severe panic

attacks, agoraphobia, and OCD. These brain disorders run on one side

of our family. It is genetic. There are several of us like this,

and we vary from mostly functional to completely disabled. - Dominie

>

> From: heidi <heidilhlokey@...>

> Subject: [HeidiLiane] Spinning out of control with General Anixity

Disorder

> HeidiLiane

> Date: Friday, January 9, 2009, 7:11 PM

>

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> I get nervous at times and bit my nails but laely lettingthem gorw

> out slowly theywer e bitten down below the skin the nail grows

> over.Hubby promised me a manicure so when theygeta certain length I

> willtellmy hair aldy shampoo hair cut manicure nad pedicure and eye

> bbrows done too butthat willbea couple ofmonths away.

>

> I wonder if my nervousness nd nail biting can bea form a of GAD??

> heidi

>

> Many of us with invisible illnesses also suffer from anxiety

> disorders. They are " overlap " syndromes that are probably also

> related to neurotransmitter derangements. The s Hopkins site

> above is an excellent resource!…Dr. Don

>

> Spinning Out of Control With GAD

>

> Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive,

> recurrent, and prolonged anxiety and worrying. People with

> generalized anxiety disorder typically agonize over everyday

> concerns, such as job responsibilities, finances, health, or family

> well-being or even such minor matters as household chores, car

> repairs, being late for appointments, or personal appearance. The

> focus of anxiety may shift frequently from one concern to another,

> and sensations may vary from mild tension and nervousness to

feelings

> of dread.

>

> Generalized anxiety disorder affects 6.8 million adults (3.1% of

> adult Americans) each year. Although people with generalized

anxiety

> disorder know that the intensity, duration, and frequency of their

> anxiety and worry are out of proportion to the actual likelihood or

> impact of the feared event, they still have difficulty controlling

> their emotions.

>

> Perpetual anxiety may impair concentration, memory, and decision-

> making ability, decrease attention span, and lead to a loss of

> confidence. Normal activities, such as working, socializing with

> friends, and maintaining intimate relationships, may become

difficult

> or even impossible.

>

> Generalized anxiety disorder may also produce a range of physical

> symptoms, including heart palpitations, restlessness, sweating,

> headaches, and nausea. Some generalized anxiety disorder sufferers,

> not realizing that generalized anxiety disorder is a treatable

> illness, become accustomed to their condition and assume that it is

> normal to feel on edge all the time. But the constant anxiety can

> lead to alcohol or drug abuse. The physical symptoms of generalized

> anxiety disorder, along with alcohol or drug abuse, are often what

> finally compel a person to seek treatment.

>

> Despite its more chronic course, generalized anxiety disorder

> responds better to treatment than does panic disorder.

Psychotherapy

> helps many people, either by itself or in combination with

> medication. In addition, relaxation techniques, such as deep

> breathing exercises or meditation, may relieve symptoms of

> generalized anxiety disorder.

>

> The antidepressant medications duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram

> (Lexapro), Paxil, and Effexor are FDA approved for the treatment of

> generalized anxiety disorder, but other serotonin and

norepinephrine

> reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs, tricyclics, benzodiazepines, and BuSpar

> are also commonly used to treat generalized anxiety disorder.

>

> The s Hopkins Depression and Anxiety Bulletin For readers

> interested in acquiring even more in-depth information and guidance

> for treating depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, L.

> Swartz, Director of Clinical Programs at the s Hopkins Mood

> Disorders Center writes our Depression and Anxiety Bulletin. In

each

> issue of this quarterly report, you'll read about late-breaking

> developments for treating mood disorders, first-hand reports from

> leading medical conferences around the world, news of treatment

> breakthroughs, in-depth reports on important topics in

psychotherapy,

> as well as answers to your questions about living with and treating

> mood disorders.

>