THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is
one of the most common of the anxiety disorders with about one in
twenty people experiencing it.
WHAT IS G.A.D
G.a.d is characterized by
excessive and prolonged periods of worry. It has been described as a
disorder of worrying. Individuals with G.A.D display chronic
and repeated worrying which can last from minutes to hours. One of
my clients described it aptly when she said that she would worry
about two flies walking up a wall. These clients perceive worry as
overwhelming and uncontainable. The second characteristic of
G.A.D is clients begin to worry about worrying. In this scenario
clients find that worry becomes so uncontrollable that they wrongly
begin to believe that they are going to go crazy, go mad, or that
they are losing their mind. The origins of worry can usually be
traced back to one of the clients Parents who was a "worrier" and
their worrying developed in the child through modelling.
Altered Physical
Sensations
Clients often experience symptoms
such as restlessness, being on edge, easily fatigued, difficulty
with concentration, irritability, muscular tension, and sleep
disturbance.
Altered Thoughts
worrying is the main
feature of generalized anxiety disorder.
In particular worrying that there loved ones will come to harm in
some way, worrying about their health and perceived dangers,
worrying about financial issues. Thinking usually becomes
catastrophic and individuals constantly turn "mole hills into
mountains". For example, a wife worrying because her husband is ten
minutes late home from work, may start thinking..."what if he's had
a car crash, "what if he's being mugged", "what if he's lying in a
hedge and there is no one around" she rings his mobile and there is
no answer. This reinforces her thoughts and they become even more
catastrophic worrying herself sick. The husband walks in twenty
minutes later having given a colleague a lift in his car!!
Altered Behaviours
In G.A.D the clients behaviour
changes and tends to reinforce their worrying and keeps it going.
They may avoid certain situations for fear of exaggerated dangers,
they may overprotect their children and prevent them going to
certain places in order to prevent perceived dangers and to help
control their worrying. They may constantly ring children and
spouses in order to reassure themselves that everything is all
right.
Altered Emotions
Unfortunately, in generalized anxiety disorder when
the symptoms last for much of an individual's day people can feel
desperate. Sometimes their mood can drop. This
can lead to recurrent depression where it never seems to go away
completely. Constant incessant worry grinds the individual down and
at times depression is never to far away
TREATMENT
CBT is likely to include the following:
1. Teaching about the nature of anxiety, including
the physical symptoms. Any misinterpretations that such symptoms
such as palpitations are harmful or dangerous can be corrected.
2. Exploring the extreme and unhelpful thoughts that happen
particularly when the sufferer is very anxious. Learning techniques
to balance some of these biased thoughts.
3. The features of worry can be explored and techniques tried to
lessen the impact of worrying.
4. Where many situations are being avoided they will be looked at.
The therapy will attempt to reintroduce these into the life of the
sufferer. This is done gradually in small steps and only when the
client feels ready to try.
5. Sometimes the therapy may include training in relaxation
techniques to reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety.
6. Where depression has become a feature of the
person's problem this can also be treated using CBT.
Further Information about
Generalized Anxiety disorder can be obtained from:
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