Help with general anxiety disorder?!
Question: I have a loved one whom i believe may have General anxiety disorder. What are some of the main symptoms and what can i do to help? What kind of treatment is available?
Answers: I have a loved one whom i believe may have General anxiety disorder. What are some of the main symptoms and what can i do to help? What kind of treatment is available?
I suffer from GAD myself and have done so my entire life. It is now completely controlled and I live a normal life (if you can call anyone's life "normal"). Often, the affected person will have panic attacks or feel panicked when there's no apparent reason or cause. For example, I had one of my first panic attacks while watching a boring infomercial. This can make the person fear that they're having a heart attack or other physical problem. Many other physical symptoms occur like loss of sleep and achy muscles. I had tons of symptoms, most of which were the result of lack of sleep and being tensed up all the time. Sometimes, you wonder if you're going to lose control. You can also develop agorophobia (fear of public places) simply because you are afraid of panicing in front of others. A person suffering from GAD probably feels horribly alone and misunderstood. They get told by well-meaning friends to "just relax" when it is actually almost physically impossible for them to do so. This person needs your support. There is no shame in getting help. This is not their fault, although they probably feel like they are being weak and they are embarrassed. Offer to go with them to the doctor. Be there to listen to them. I wish so bad that someone had understood what I was going through instead of treating me like I was being silly and overreacting to things. There are lots of treatments available which usually include a combination of psychotherapy and medications. I did not want to do the meds because they can make you feel dizzy at first (a common symptom during a panic attack and one which scared me at the time) but I finally agreed and am just fine. No side effects. No personality change. I still have emotions but they are normal reactions like anyone else would have. Thank you for wanting to help this person. You have no idea how much this alone will help them.
the treatments for it include medications, psychotherapy, and learning how to handle stress/uncomfortable situations. these people tend to be nervous/uncomfortable/anxious regarding many things, including things they have no control over. it can be very debilitating for people. good luck.
Here are some resources you can review
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generalized...
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/ge...
For generalized anxiety disorder, you can be treated with prescription drugs such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, or escitalopram. If it's just a mild case, they can try yoga.. I do yoga all the time and it is SO relaxing, it's unbelivable. Also take bubble baths & a good book, they're the cure for all of your worries. Eating dark chocolate I've read also sets off positive things in your brain, chocolate helps everything get better anyway. However if it's really bad they need to see a doctor and he/she can better describe the treatments available. The internet is a good source for answers but the doctor has the real ones.
GAD = just a label.
"Treatment" insinuates a disease or = "broken".
Most common treatment is to get them drug-addicted, but that doesn't do much for their behavior, and it generally consigns them to a blunted (and sexless) existence, more or less permanently.
They need to talk to someone, though I'd recommend you find a professional whose PRIMARY strategy is behavioral rather than pharmacological.