Friday, June 12, 2009

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Comprehension

By Gordon Dalwood

Unfortunately, there seems to be a common misconception that GAD is not really condition which needs to be taken seriously. In fact, a vast amount of people even believe that GAD is a condition which only weak minded people experience, but the fact is, this couldn't be further from the truth. To the contrary, GAD is by no account a minor condition but rather, it's a condition which results in serious consequences for millions upon millions of people from around the globe.

GAD is a chronic panic form that is focused on worry and nervousness. Paranoia, fear and nervousness are the feelings a person suffering from GAD will deal with on a regular basis. The feelings will involve personal, family and financial matters. To qualify as GAD, the feelings must be of at least a 6 month duration.

When one suffers from GAD, there will be a tendency to suffer from a variety of symptoms. These symptoms can include drowsiness, lack of energy, irritability, forgetfulness, chronic insomnia, and other issues. In short, so much anxiety if weighing on the person's mind that the psychological problem starts to manifest in physical ways. This is where the person suffers to the point common life activities are impeded.

In some cases, the sufferer of GAD may experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms. This could include flashbacks of traumatic, anxiety inducing events. These intrusive flashbacks can greatly undermine the quality of the person's life and lead to living a life far less beneficial than one would experience without dealing with GAD. This is why seeking treating for GAD is so important.

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.

There are of course those who refuse to acknowledge the fact that GAD is a serious condition and one should avoid listening to such people at all costs. In other words, one should only listen to advice from people that are knowledgeable in the field of anxiety and anxiety related conditions. Those who aren't can offer no real help at all and for the most part, advice they offer is based largely on myths and unfounded rumors. For your own sake, unless a person is a professional, take what they say with a pinch of salt.

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