Generalized Anxiety Disorder
I believe I am most disposed to generalized anxiety disorder, or better known as GAD. People with GAD worry about nearly anything. I am the type of person that needs to always worry about something. If I do not have something to worry about, I tend to worry over the fact that I have nothing to worry about thinking that I am forgetting something important to do. GAD is common in Western society and about 3 percent of the U.S. population have symptoms of the disorder. Women are also diagnosed with GAD more than men. According to Freud, children exposed to high levels of realistic, neurotic, or moral anxiety and lack an adequate defense mechanism are most likely to develop generalized anxiety disorder (Comer).
While I was growing up, my parents were strong believers in the authoritarian parenting style. When I did something wrong my parents never explained to me why it was wrong or how to fix the problem, I would always just be punished. The way my parents would say my name or look at me worried me, making me think maybe I have done something wrong once again. My maladaptive assumptions have also led me to believe that I may have generalized anxiety disorder. According to Ellis, people with GAD often hold basic irrational assumptions (Comer). Which in my case is true since I always mention how things are catastrophic when they do not end up the way I want them to be.
Current and Past Symptoms
I currently have a few symptoms that are related to generalized anxiety disorder. For example, I always feel like I am tense and feel wound up. Whenever I constantly worry about stuff I tend to feel worn out as well. Concentration has become an issue for me, especially when it comes to school. I find myself...
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...o become a hypochondriac.
Works Cited
Borkovec, Thomas D., Newman, Michelle G., & Castonguay, Louis G. (2003). Cognitive- behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder with integrations from interpersonal and experiential therapies. The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry, 2(3), 392-399.
Goodwin, Renee D. & Gorman, Jack M. (2002). Psychopharmacologic treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and the risk of major depression. American Journal of Psychiatry. 159(11), 1935-1937.
Wells, Adrian. (2002). GAD, metacognition, and mindfulness: An information processing analysis. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. 9(1), 95-102.
What medications are used to treat anxiety disorder?. Retrieved November 10, 2011, from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-health-medications/what- medications-are-used-to-treat-anxiety-disorders.shtml
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.
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.
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.
The onset of Generalized anxiety disorder begins in childhood or adolescents, and It can have a lifetime prevalence of 3-5% with a higher risk in women. One major effect of Generalized Anxiety Disorder is excessive worry or anxiety lasting up to 6 months at a time, although individuals that have Generalized Anxiety Disorder don’t identify their worrying as excessive all of the time, but they will recount subjective distress because of a constant worry, or may have difficulty with control over the worrying, or even experience social impairment. Anxiety can be associated up to 6 symptoms which include inability to sleep, fatigued, lack of concentration, easily agitated, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances. Most of which can affect everyday lifestyle and greatly effect physical health, not only can they cause personal distress but may also cause distress in those around.
unrelenting anxiety about events that are unlikely to occur. Symptoms that point to GAD are
There are many types of anxiety disorder but the most common psychological disorders are: phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and traumatic stress disorder.
People with GAD have unrelenting, excessive, uncontrollably worries. The central cognition in people with GAD was summarised as "The world is potentially dangerous and I many not be able to cope with whatever comes from the future so I must anticipate all bad things that might happen so that is can avoid them or prepare for them" (Sibrava and Borkovec, 2006 as cited in Wilkinson et al., 2011, p.
There have been many debates about psychological disorders on whether they are acquired biologically (nature) or through learned behaviors and experiences people have (nurture). Anxiety Disorders is the most common mental disorder, affecting eighteen percent of the U.S population, roughly 40 million adults (ADAA). Anxiety is a normal emotion to experiences, but is different than just normal anxiety because it is where a person feels excessive or unrealistic anxiousness or fear. It is much more severe than just being nervous about making a decision, taking a test, or being faced with a problem. Anxiety disorder grows to the point where it becomes an inconvenience and someone can no longer live a normal life without the anxiousness butting in. Anxiety disorder can also take different forms such as OCD, panic disorder, and phobias. Although, there is not a specific reason as to why people develop this type of disorder, research suggest that someone’s genetics or the life experience they go through can greatly trigger this disorder. Some people believe that their DNA and the characteristics they inherit through their parents, is what makes them who they are. Others truly believe that behaviors can be learned from the environment they grow up in. One thing that can be said is, nature and nurture both play a role.
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).
Anxiety disorder is a type of abnormal behavior characterized by unrealistic, irrational fear. These types of disorders are diagnosed two as often in women as in men. Although these disorders can be very chronic and serious, they are easily treatable. Generalized anxiety disorder is when people experience fear and worry that is not focused on one specific aspect; nevertheless, they suffer greatly with headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, and insomnia. Obsessive-compulsive disorder, better known as OCD, involves persistent, unwanted, obsessions and irresistible urges to perform compulsions in order to relieve anxiety. Unlike other anxiety disorders, OCD consists more of anxiety and worry rather than fear itself. Many people who experience OCD are aware that there is no motive behind their actions, however their anxiety is heightened when they try to ignore the compulsions. People with such anxiety disorders often experience sensitivity to other people’s views as well as worry over their surroundings.
Do you know what it feels like to have your palms sweat, throat close up, and your fingers tremble? This is the everyday life of someone who lives with anxiety. As soon as I wake up in the morning, I hear my brain freaking out about the day ahead of me. What do I eat for breakfast? What do I do first when I get home from school? What happens if I get in a car crash on my way to school? A million thoughts at one time racing through my head. I never have the time to process all of them. Most mornings, I lay in my bed and have to take a few deep breaths to begin my hectic but not so hectic day. That’s just the beginning. It’s safe to say that I feel that I 'm an anxious person and that I have an anxiety disorder.
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.
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.
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. Every person experiences some form of anxiety in his or her lifetime. Anxiety helps us deal with tense situations like using our flight or fight reaction, study harder for an exam, or keep focus on important deadlines. Anxiety can be useful until it gets to the point of interfering with everyday life. Some people explain it as not being able to shut the anxiety off. When anxiety becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it becomes a disabling disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, 2009). Each year, anxiety disorders affect about 40 million American adults age 18 years and older (National Institute of Mental Health, 2009). There are five major Anxiety Disorders they include Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Panic Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Phobias.
The difference between normal worrying and generalized anxiety disorder are the accompanying symptoms as well as the length of time the worrying persists. To occasionally torment oneself with or suffer from distressing thoughts is classified as normal worrying. The symptoms of worrying may vary, but most people experience disturbed feelings and the mental fatigue of being overly concerned with a circumstance. On the other hand, with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) one experiences excessive anxiety under most circumstances, expecting the worst even when there is no obvious or visible reason for concern. The symptoms are being agitated, on edge, easily tired, having difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, and issues with sleep. GAD usually develops during childhood or the adolescent years and the symptoms last as long as six months as opposed to normal worrying which dissipates in a much shorter length of time. (Word count: 141)