Coming to Terms with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)

By Gordon Dalwood

The fictitious beliefs surrounding GAD or generalized anxiety disorder are many. Some say it is not an illness of great import and the people that have this are just suffering from a weak mind. This is just a stereotype that has become commonplace and the accuracy of this diagnosis is totally off-track. Millions of people who have GAD are suffering from a genuine incapacitating condition that is not a figment of their imagination.

Essentially, GAD is a form of anxiety which manifests itself primarily as worry and nervousness, and in most cases it is known to be chronic. Sufferers experience frequent bouts of nervousness, fear and even paranoia with regards to various aspects of their lives, whether it's about personal matters, their career, their family or of course, their financial position. However, it's only when a person experiences these symptoms for at least six months that they are then considered to be suffering from GAD.

Additionally, people suffering from GAD tend to suffer from a variety of symptoms, such as drowsiness, forgetfulness, irritability, lack of energy, insomnia, as well as a host of other issues. Furthermore, with so much anxiety playing on a person's mind, this psychological problem soon starts to manifest in physical ways. When the condition reaches this stage, the effects make it virtually impossible for a person to lead a normal day to day life.

In certain instances, sufferers of GAD may also experience symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. These could for example include flashbacks of traumatic, anxiety inducing events. These flashbacks can have a tremendous impact on the quality of a person's life, and often leads to living a life far less enjoyable than one would lead if you weren't suffering from GAD. Therefore, seeking professional treatment for GAD is vital.

The primary step in treatment focuses on receiving a proper analysis. Such an analysis is carried out by a psychiatrist by means of a series of tests. Once the psychiatrist has made a proper diagnosis, they will move on to the next treatment. In many cases this usually involves being given prescriptions for anti-anxiety medication in order to control the problem.

Some patients will recover just fine simply by using the anti-anxiety prescriptions. There will be those, however, that prefer to meet with a therapist and discuss counseling options to reduce the onset of GAD. For many, the mix of prescription medication and therapy work quite well.

It is, however, important not to dismiss engaging in simple lifestyle changes to reduce anxiety. Playing sports, cleaning up one's diet, taking part in hobbies that burn up excess tension can all have a calming and therapeutic. This is why they are considered so valuable.



It is also important to avoid listening to those individuals that downplay the seriousness of GAD. When advice and opinions are not coming from a knowledgeable source, it is best to dismiss the opinions. They simply are not helpful and they certainly will not play a role in alleviating your condition. Once again, their opinions are based on myths and hold little value. Stick with listening to the advice of professionals. They know what they are doing. - 31877

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