1. Diagnosis: Generalized anxiety disorder (primary diagnosis)
Illness anxiety disorder
Separation anxiety disorder
Severity rating: 5
Additional information: irritable bowel syndrome, Celiac disease at age 25, cannot bear a child
2. By looking through the case study, the most prominent problem Sara struggles with, is her persistent worry about different parts of her life including her job status, health and her relationship with her husband. For the past six months, she has been anxious and worried excessively, leading her to have difficulty sleeping. As she admitted, “ I cannot shut my brain off anymore, I am worrying all the time”, therefore her condition met the primary criteria of generalized anxiety disorder which is the excessive worry for at least 6 months more days than not, about diverse events and activities. Being restless, irritable, having sleep difficulty and being easily fatigued are four factors of GAD that are apparent in this case. “I have always had lots of energy but now at times I struggle to get out of bed and drag myself thorough the work day”; it indicates the fatigue she recently experienced. Fidgets with her jewellery when speaking and a nervous laugh she has, shows her persistent anxiety. Moreover, she was recently diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome which has a high comorbidity with anxiety disorders. In conclusion, since she is persistently worried about different aspects of her life and she has the criteria for GAD, generalized anxiety disorder is the most likable disorder she has.
About the second diagnosis, the reason I believe she has symptoms of illness anxiety disorder, not somatic symptom disorder, is that she has no severe physical symptom l...
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...hem as the result of her efforts, and then conclude that she has the ability to confront the problems she has.
As it is mentioned earlier, one of the characteristics of people with generalized anxiety disorder is cognitive avoidance. In order to overcome this issue, the therapist could ask Sara to imagine worse problems, to not only break her cognitive barrier but also change the way she looks at her current situation; for instance, asking her to imagine that she has no job or she has AIDS, and then ask her what is the next step? What are you going to do?
Since one of the prominent concerns she has is related to health, she needs to be reassured by a physician that these symptoms are not dangerous, along with being aware about the fact that she misinterprets these symptoms and these symptoms can be created if she persistently focus on the certain parts of her body.
living in such a manner. I did not know the exact cause of her anxiety
What would be the criteria used to distinguish between clinically significant fear and anxiety, and everyday fear and anxiety?
Generalized Anxiety Disorder, also known as (GAD) is one of the several types of anxiety disorders. GAD according to our textbook (Lahey) is an uneasy sense of general tension and apprehension for no apparent reason that makes the individual highly uncomfortable because of its prolonged presence. GAD is much more than the normal anxiety people experience day to day. Without provoking, it is chronic and exaggerated worry and tension. This disorder can involve anticipating disaster, often worrying excessively about health, money, family or work. Sometimes, though, just the thought of getting through the day brings anxiety.
Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorder in the United States. Between 15 - 19% of the population suffers from this disorder, which impairs the quality of life and functioning (Stuart 218). What is anxiety? Abnormal Psychology describes anxiety as “an adaptive emotion that helps us plan and prepare for a possible theat.” The text book further states, “worrying about many different aspects of life becomes chronic, excessive, and unreasonable.” This is also known as generalized anxiety disorder or GAD (Butcher 201). DSM IV-TR specifies that GAD is a worry that occurs more days then not for at least 6 months, and that it must be experienced as difficult to control (Butcher 201). 25% of those that suffer from this disease are treated, leaving a large group in the population with anxiety without treatment. Although there is a high correlation of those with anxiety that use health facilities to treat the additional symptoms that anxiety causes (Stuart 218).
Fear and Anxiety are essential functions that occur in the brain that allow people to respond to stimuli appropriately. These feelings as normal as they are can cause problems and in 3.1 percent of adult Americans approximately 6.8 million people it does cause problems (“Generalized anxiety disorder”, 2014). A problem can arise when people have too much fear and anxiety; a problem is evident when it interferes with their life and their ability to do things. This is known as general anxiety disorder (GAD). When someone is suffering from generalized anxiety disorder they normally experience excessive exaggerated anxiety and worry about normal life events that give no clear reason for worry (“Generalized anxiety disorder”, 2014). This disorder can be debilitating and rule over people’s lives if it is severe and a better understanding of the disorder can be gained by looking at historical views, current views, causes and symptoms, case studies, differential diagnosis considerations, and treatment.
Association, 2000) It is useful to study this disorder not only to learn to look for symptoms, but
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic and often disabling condition that is associated with uncontrollable worry and tension. The vicious cycle of anxiety and worry interferes with relationships, careers, and education, and often leads to depression. This disorder is much more than the normal anxiety that everyone experiences from time to time, and can be crippling in its severity. GAD is unlikely to disappear without proper treatment, and often worsens over time.
Feeling anxious is common for everybody, especially when faced with an important life event, but it is when someone has that anxious feeling for long periods of time for unwarranted reasons, that it can be determined that they have an anxiety disorder (Rector, Bourdeau and Kitchen 2). Anxiety will never appear on it’s own, it is usually paired with depression, this is why Patricia Farrell refers to anxiety and depression as the “ugly twins” (Farrell 71). In 2008, it was determined that anxiety was the “most common mental health problem in women, and are second only to substance use disorders in men”( Rector, Bourdeau and Kitchen 2). There is a growing need to better understand anxiety, so the illness is no longer marginilized and sufferers are able to receive treatment as soon as possible. The four most common forms are posttramautic stress disorders(PTSD), generalized anxiety disorder(GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and social phobia. These disorders, while classified because of the high level of anxiety (Emilien xv), vary in specific physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms, this is why treatments slightly differ. Although it has determined that treatment improves one’s quality of living (Hofmann, Wu and Boettcher 13), because of the lack of knowledge and cultural stigma that surrounds anxiety disorder, sufferers will not receive treatment.
There are several types of anxiety disorders. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves excessive worrying, nervousness and tension. With this disorder, there is a constant feeling of dread that shapes your entire life. This type of anxiety doesn’t have the intensity of a panic attack, however lasts longer and makes daily life and relaxing impossible. People with GAD worry that a friendship is in jeopardy if a missed phone call to a friend isn’t returned to them. The thought of getting through the day can cause anxiety. GAD makes people worry excessively and the worrying is constant. These people feel as though their mind is on a nonstop running marathon and there is nothing they can do about it. To help treat GAD there are several self-help tips to follow. One can look at their worries in a new way and understand that worries are triggered and the blame cannot be put on anyone else. Another helpful tip is to relax. “As you strengthen your ability to relax, your nervous system will become less reactive and you’ll be less vulnerable to anxiety and stress. Over time, the relaxation response will come easier and easier, until it feels natural,” (Smith, Segal, and Segal). Meditation, ...
Bearing in mind that an anxiety response is a result of various factors, there are different types of anxiety disorders. The most common type of anxiety disorders as described as specific phobias, social anxiety disorder (SAD), panic disorder (PD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) (2016), specific phobias affect about 19 million adults in the U.S, while SAD affects 15 million, PD affects 6 million, GAD affects about 6.8 million, OCD affects about 2.2 million and PTSD affects 7.7 million adults respectively. Considering that anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S, yet only about one-third of those suffering receive treatment (ADAA, 2016).
Panic disorder and generalized anxiety according to the DSM-IV-TR are classified as anxiety disorder. In this paper we will be discussing panic and generalized anxiety disorder looking into the different aspects such as contributing theories and what appropriate treatment can be use to help ease the symptoms of these disorders. According to the DSM-IV-TR panic disorder is a recurrent panic attack. It typically begins with the sudden onset of intense apprehension, fear, or terror. Panic disorder is a serious condition that strikes without reason or warning, for example they do not occur immediately before or on exposure to a situation that almost always causes anxiety. Therefore attacks can’t be predicted and may cause people to become stressed, anxious or worried wondering when the next panic attack will occur. Statistics show that 40% of all young adults have occasional panic attack, especially during times of intense stress, such as exam week.
Those with the disorder usually know that their anxiety, thoughts, and fears are irrational and unfounded. They realize that it is angst and terror that they are experiencing. They know that people around them are not really critically judging them or evaluating them constantly. They understand that everyone is not out to degrade or embarrass them. But despite this logical knowledge and sense, they still continue to feel and believe differently, thus, thoughts and symptoms of anxiety usually persist with no indication of going away.
of the disbelief that they are legitimate illnesses and not just made up for attention or
The symptoms that one face during GAD include: worry all the time, irritation, feeling of insecurity, depression, dizziness, tension, restless, sleeping disorder, headaches, mental disorder, nausea, and muscle aches. It happens continually for more than 6 months. The symptoms of worry vary during General Anxiety Disorder, worry about family, finance, and always thinking about negative outcomes of any action. Although worrying about family is normal, but in GAD case, the patient think whole day about the way of living of his family, their future, their finance and calculate negative outcomes.
While in treatment, some people with generalized anxiety disorder are reluctant to give up their worrying and worry behaviors because they believe these worries are helpful to them (e.g. Adrian arrived at work 30 minutes early