Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Symptoms, Test, Treatment

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worrying that disrupts a person's overall functioning. We can cure it with the help of medication assisted treatment. What test to take to diagnose it? How to get out? What are the most effective drugs and natural remedies? https://tinyurl.com/y443ohtn

Definition: What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is part of the category of anxiety disorders. "According to the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5), it is characterized by the presence of excessive anxiety and worry occurring most of the time for at For a diagnosis to be made, at least three of the following symptoms must have been present most of the time for six months:

• Restlessness / feeling of being overexcited or exhausted,

• Fatigability,

• Difficulty concentrating or memory loss,

• Irritability,

• Muscle tension,

• Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling asleep, frequent nocturnal awakenings, restless sleep, subjective feeling of ineffective sleep).

"As with other psychiatric disorders, these symptoms must alter the person's usual functioning (social, professional, family sphere), must not be the result of taking psychotropic substances and must not be better explained by another mental disorder", specifies our interlocutor.

What are The Physical Symptoms?

Generalized anxiety disorder can cause physical symptoms (bodily manifestations of anxiety) and psychic symptoms:

• Appetite and sleep disturbances

• Headaches increased migraines in migraine sufferers

• Muscle pain, cramps

• Digestive disorders (pain, abdominal discomfort, impaired transit, irritable bowel syndrome)

• Tired

• Hypervigilance and startles

• Palpitations

• Tremors

• Nausea

• Excessive sweating

• Sweaty hands

• Dizziness

• Choking sensations

"GAD is often associated with other psychiatric disorders, foremost among which are other anxiety disorders (eg, social phobia, panic disorder) and the depressive episode (which can also be a complication of GAD), continues. Background, Psychiatrist. It can be associated with or lead to addictive disorders (tobacco, alcohol, benzodiazepines) according to the theory of self-medication (use certain products to alleviate symptoms) ". Finally, it can be associated with all other psychiatric disorders (polar disorders, for example) , which is the most frequent case (it is rare to identify a GAD without psychiatric comorbidity).

What are The Causes?

Like other mental illnesses, GAD results from an interaction between a personal vulnerability and the person's environment. "Personal vulnerability is most often genetic: anxious temperament, sensitivity to stress, for example. Patients suffering from GAD can present with anxiety personality disorders such as avoidant personality or dependent personality. "Environmental constraints can be professional, family, social, for example. It can also be psychological trauma or negative life events.

Profiles at Risk

The best-studied risk factors are:

• Low socioeconomic status

• Female sex

• Exposure to childhood trauma (including child abuse, neglect, physical violence, sexual abuse, and parental alcoholism)

They are not specific for GAD (other anxiety disorders, mood disorders).

Testing and Diagnosis

The positive diagnosis of TAG is clinical. "The doctor must, however, eliminate a physical cause to the symptoms encountered and ensure that they are not related to another mental disorder which would better explain their presence (another anxiety disorder, for example)", specifies Dr. Fond. Although this is not necessary for the diagnosis, the doctor can use different anxiety rating scales (such as the Hamilton Anxiety Scale, for example). "The doctor should also screen for the presence of other anxiety disorders and a depressive. .. episode, frequently concomitant with GAD. If they are present, these disorders should also be treated, "he specifies. If GAD only very rarely leads to hospitalization, the depressive episode that accompanies it may in some cases require this set aside to protect the patient ..

Treatment: how to treat generalized anxiety disorder?

The most effective strategy is to combine antidepressant therapy with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). GAD is most often chronic in the absence of support, with however fluctuations (attenuation and then increased anxiety).

As a first step, it is important to remind the patient of the essential rules when suffering from a mental disorder:

• Stop stimulants (coffee, tobacco, alcohol, and any other psychoactive substance)

• The practice of regular physical activity: 150 minutes per week of moderate activity (slight acceleration of the heart rate) in 2 or 3 sessions of 75 minutes of intense activity (great acceleration of the heart rate)

• Balanced Mediterranean-type diet (rich in vegetables, legumes, favoring olive oil for seasoning, including two servings of fish per week and limiting meats, processed foods, and junk food)

• Have good sleep hygiene (for example: going to bed and waking up at fixed times, no screen before bedtime, not staying in bed when awake)

Medicines

Drug treatment for GAD is based on the prescription of antidepressant treatment. "Contrary to what its name might suggest, the antidepressant is not reserved for depressive episodes, recalls Dr. Fond. It is effective in many anxiety disorders, including GAD. Its effectiveness is It is effective in many anxiety disorders, including GAD. It may need to be taken regularly for 4 to 6 weeks before the first effects appear, although improvements are most often seen before this time. The prescribed treatment should be taken for a minimum of 6 to 12 months, at the end of which it will be reduced very gradually in agreement with the doctor ". The latter may prescribe in combination with the basic antidepressant treatment, an anxiolytic treatment to be used only during moments of disabling acute anxiety." benzodiazepines,Which are not long-term treatments. TAG. Their prescription will be limited in time due to the adaptogenic potential of these molecules. Hydroxyzine, which does not cause dependence, can be presented as an alternative to benzodiazepines but has flaws, "says our interlocutor However, its effectiveness is inconsistent, and it can be very sedative in some people.

Psychotherapy

Cognitive and behavioral psychotherapies are effective in GAD. They focus, among other things, on emotional management, restructuring of dysfunctional thoughts, problem-solving, tolerance exercises to uncertainty, relaxation. Stress. Reduction based on mindfulness (MBSR) is a cognitive and Behavioral psychotherapy that effectively treats anxiety disorders. It helps lower anxiety thresholds and promotes concentration on the present moment. In this way, it helps the patient no longer focus solely on his past ruminations and Concerns It includes mindfulness exercises, for the future. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a cognitive behavioral therapy that refocuses the person on actions consistent with their deep personal values. Actions aimed at escaping anxiety are replaced by actions directed towards values. "And allows the patient to dissolve dysfunctional ideas and emotional truths. "

Natural Remedies

Relaxation methods can be used to help the patient manage their anxiety. Thus, sophrology, relaxation, abdominal breathing, and squared breathing are all keys that can help the patient in managing his emotions.