GAD

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is a constant feeling of anxiety .It is a long term condition where a person feels anxious on different situations and issues rather than a specific event. People affected with this disorder feel anxious most of the days. Women are slightly more affected by this disorder. GAD affects the daily life making it difficult for the person to perform his daily task. There are several treatments available for this disorder.

Symptoms

The symptoms for this disorder develop gradually. It can affect a person both mentally and physically. The severity of symptoms differs from person to person. Some symptoms of this disorder are listed below.
Psychological symptoms-GAD leads to following psychological symptoms
-irritability
-restlessness
-difficulty in concentrating
-impatience
-sense of fear
-getting distracted easily
Physical symptoms-Some physical symptoms of GAD are
-dry mouth
-tiredness
-irregular heart beat
-muscle aches
-difficulty in breathing
-excessive sweating
-frequent urinating
-difficulty in sleeping
-headache
-excessive thirst

Causes

The exact cause for GAD is not yet known as it generally affects a person’s mental health. People may develop this disorder with no apparent reason. A major traumatic incident or event may be the reason for this. Some reasons considered to be a cause to GAD are
Neurotransmitters-Gad is caused by imbalance of chemicals known as neurotransmitters .An unbalanced level of these chemicals significantly affect the mood and a person is likely to develop anxiety related conditions.

Combination of Causes-Some combinations of factors include body’s biological processes, environment, genetics and life experience.

Treatment

The treatment provided for GAD is of two types. It can be psychological therapy or medication or a combination of both depending on the person.
Psychological treatment- If a person is diagnosed with GAD, he or she will be advised to undergo psychological treatment before being prescribed any medication. The main form of psychological treatment is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
CBT: It is one of the most effective treatments given to a person suffering from this disorder.CBT helps in identifying any unrealistic beliefs and behavioural patterns. It helps the patient to understand and react positively to situations which cause anxiety.
Self Help-Exercising regularly like aerobics helps to combat stress and relaxes you. A minimum of moderate exercise at least for 30 minutes should be done for 5 days in a week. A moderate exercise can be a daily walk. Regular exercise releases the chemical serotonin which improves our mood. A change in diet helps to ease the symptoms of GAD. Caffeine disrupts sleep and makes heartbeat faster, so the amount of caffeine should be reduced. Smoking and alcohol worsen the condition of people suffering from GAD.
Medication-Depending on the condition long term or short term medication is provided. They treat both physical and psychological symptoms.
Short-term medication: This is done to provide immediate relief if the person is severely affected by the disorder. Some medications that may be prescribed are
Benzodiazepines: They ease the symptoms within 30 to 90 minutes of taking it. They lose their effectiveness if used more than 4 weeks.
Antihistamines: They have a calming effect on the brain, helping the person to feel less anxious.

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