“Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older” according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Anxiety has become a common household name due to resent increases and the fast-passed American lifestyle which is why there is a great need to educate our communities. In this paper, I will be discussing the history of the disorder, symptoms, causes, risk factors, and treatments that are commonly used today.
In a journal published by the National Center for the Biotechnology Information, “From the 19th century into the 20th century, the terms used to diagnose generalized anxiety included “pantophobia” and “anxiety neurosis.” GAD was considered one of the many symptoms of neurasthenia, a vaguely defined illness. NCBI also stated the Generalized Anxiety disorder appeared as a diagnostic category in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) in 1980 when anxiety neurosis was split into GAD and panic disorder. Since then there have been many more distinctions between different forms of anxiety and advancements in anxiety disorders.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder comes with its share of symptoms. The ADAA states that feeling nervous, irritable, on edge, having a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom come along with GAD. Additional symptoms associated with Generalized Anxiety Disorder are having an increased heart rate, breathing rapidly associated with hyperventilation, sweating, feeling weak or tired, difficulty concentrating, sleeping, and lastly experiencing gastrointestinal problems.
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Although there is an extensive list of symptoms associated, there are various causes as to how a person develops a Generalized Anxiety Disorder but there’s no way for certain to determine what will cause someone to develop GAD. Mental Health America (MHA) found that “those with the disorder worry excessively about money, health, family or work, even when there are no signs of trouble”. People with GAD tend to also have a hard time relaxing. Some researchers have suggested that GAD is hereditary and increases when there’s stress involved. GAD usually occurs at a younger age and the symptoms may appear gradually.
There are some risk factors that increase a person’s chances of developing GAD. HCA Healthcare says that “sex plays a role in risk factors because women are diagnosed with GAD twice as often as men. Family history, family dynamics, substance abuse, medical conditions, chronic illnesses, socioeconomics, ethnic factors, depression, social factors, stressful events in susceptible people, and history of self-harm” are all listed as risk factors.
There are preventative measures that can be taken to help reduce the impact of symptoms associated with GAD. The Mayo Clinic suggests to seek help early, and to keep a journal to track your personal life so a mental health professional can identify the causes of stress. Prioritizing issues in your life and avoiding unhealthy substance use are two additional ways to help with the prevention of GAD.
There are treatments for Generalized Anxiety Disorders. Professional assistance has helped along with some standard approaches which include therapy, medication, complementary and alternative treatment, and lastly Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation which may be suggested when people with depression show no improvement while on medication.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder can be overcome and or minimized in some cases by creating a plan of action and minimizing stress associated with everyday life. Unfortunately, it may never go fully away but it can provide a way to help others cope. Having a strong support system and trained professionals can make all the difference in the world to someone who is suffering with GAD. It is up to us to educate those around us about anxiety so we can help the increasing rate of those who are being diagnosed with it so they know they are not alone in this battle.
References
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America – Facts & Statistics
- National Center for Biotechnology Information – Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Advances in Research and Practice
- Mayo Clinic – Generalized anxiety disorder – Symptoms and causes
- National Institute of Mental Health – Anxiety Disorders
- American Psychiatric Association – What Are Anxiety Disorders?
- Everyday Health – Understanding Anxiety Disorders
