Spinning out of control with General Anixity Disorder

[Guest guest]

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.