ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GENERALISED ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD)

13 May, 2020 (Consolace Counselling Services)

What to know about GAD!

Arjun, a 16 year old boy sat silently on the chair with a nervous and tensed face, when I first met him at our place. While we began our conversation, he gradually opened up about his worries and concerns. He had scored quite well in his exams but was still worried about his future. The constant thought of his future being uncertain made him anxious. You may wonder, 'how can somebody feel worried  despite giving a good academic performance?' Doing well in exams is something which naturally makes us happy. But, Arjun's case is different and his is not a lone case. Many people may experience negative emotions even if their circumstances are supposed to be positive and this may happen when they are suffering from Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). It doesn't necessarily mean that it is always due to GAD. But one can always rely on a professional to get the right diagnosis. For that, it is important to know about GAD and how to deal with it.

What is Generalised Anxiety Disorder?

Worries are quite common, right? We all worry about one thing or the other. We all do become anxious at some point of life. But, what if our worries and anxieties interfere with our ability to function or disturb our peace of mind? What if you feel constantly nervous and tensed about not a specific thing but many random things? What if negative thoughts do not leave your mind and you start visualising negative situations quite often? Now, that is not something that should be ignored because this can be Generalised Anxiety Disorder(GAD) which is a common anxiety disorder that can worsen if not taken seriously. It is not very intense but can be long lasting. Hence, should not be taken lightly. 

How do we fight GAD?

Our strategy to tackle any disease or illness should be carried out in the order of the below mentioned steps-

Understanding the Causes:

So, when we talk about the causes of Generalised Anxiety Disorder, it could be social, biological and psychological factors. So basically, if you are someone who is prone to negative thinking or gets worried easily, you might be at greater risk of being diagnosed with GAD. Also, as far as the social or environmental factors are concerned, you may also develop GAD if you were subjected to a traumatic situation recently or in the past. The society, the environment in which you live plays a major role in accelerating your worries. Like in the case of Arjun, where the competitive environment made him worry excessively about his future. GAD can sometimes be incurred from family members. It can be genetic. Most importantly, it can occur together with other mental disorders. So once we understand the causes, our next task is to identify the symptoms.

Identifying the symptoms:

Like any other anxiety disorder, there are both mental and physical symptoms when it comes to GAD. If you are experiencing or know someone experiencing the following symptoms, you should know that it might be GAD.

  • Excessive and uncontrollable worry.
  • Worrying for a prolonged period of time (at least 6 months).
  • Over thinking that is intrusive and destructive.
  • Worrying to an extent that it disrupts normal functioning like your job, activities, studies or other social activities.
  • Worrying about everything even if there is no reason to worry.
  • Fear of uncertainty.
  • Fatigue, headache, sleep disorders or insomnia, Digestive problems etc.

Look for assistance/support:

Anxiety disorders can be bad but the good news is, these are treatable. One can recover from Generalised Anxiety Disorder but the problem lies in the fact that not many of us seek assistance for it. We either ignore the symptoms or avoid approaching a professional expert for help. Both pharmacological and psychological methods can be used for the recovery. Psychological methods has been very useful in alleviating the symptoms of GAD. It includes-

  • Psychotherapy
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Relaxation therapy

According to Psychology Today, there is a recovery rate of 57 percent when we use the Psychotherapy approach to treat GAD. Seeking professional help becomes important because if the symptoms of GAD are not alleviated on time, it can hamper the quality of life.

Self Care is the Best Care!

  • In a time when there is a greater risk of developing anxiety disorders like GAD by worrying about the uncertain future that the Covid-19 has left us with, we really need to be much more prepared to fight our anxieties and worries.
  • Diverting the path of negative thoughts towards positive ones can be helpful. For that, stay productive.
  • Self realisation is vital. Understand that the future is yet to come and we can only try to make it better. It's beyond our control. Practice mindfulness more often to stay in the present and reduce the worries regarding the future.
  • Practice relaxation techniques like meditation at home.

People who find it difficult to manage it on their own should not hesitate but seek professional help as soon as possible. People living in and out of Trivandrum can approach Consolace counselling services in Trivandrum to fight their battle with anxiety disorders and mental unrest. During these tough times; remember, your counsellor is just a click away. Stay safe and stay healthy, both physically and mentally! 


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