Generized Anxiety Disorder(GAD)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is one of the most common mental disorders and can effect anyone regardless of their financial and social backgrounds.A diagnoses of GAD is usually made when a persons anxieties go from being normal everyday worries and stresses to excessive and uncontrollable anxiety and worry lasting for long periods of time.(6 months or more)

People experiencing generalized anxiety disorder will often see disaster around every corner.They may be overly concerned about their health and the health of their loved ones,most often for no particular reason.People suffering from GAD may also worry more than usual about their jobs,money and what others think about them.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder affects millions of people globally.Women seem to be at greater risk of developing GAD than men.(about twice as likely)Generalized Anxiety  Disorder can play a hugh roll in the development of Panic Attacks,but at the same time this is not always the case.Many people suffering from GAD may never experience a panic attack.

The most common Symptoms of GAD are excessive and/or long periods of uncontrolllable anxiety and worry,restlessness,feelings of being on edge,an unrealistic view of everyday problems,irritability and/or moodiness,tiredness,headaches,muscle tension,sweating,difficulty concentrating,nausea,and difficulty with sleep.There are many other symptoms and not everyone will experience all of them.

As with most Mental disorders the causes are not fully understood but research has found that family history,environmental factors and brain chemistry are at least possible contributing factors in the development of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.Although the symptoms are very disturbing for those suffering from GAD the disorder is treatable.

There are many Effective Treatments available for Generalized Anxiety Disorder they include,relaxation techniques such as meditation and deep breathing exercises,Cognitive Behavior Therapy,Progressive Muscle Relaxation,and even Physical Exercise can be extremely beneficial in helping to reduce the symptoms of GAD and many other Anxiety Disorders.

For more information on the treatments listed above click on the links provided in the post.These links are to older more in depth posts and other resources

Agoraphobia

Panic Attacks are extremely disturbing and can be difficult to treat.In severe cases Panic attacks can lead to avoidance of situations that cause stress and anxiety. This kind of avoidance can sometimes lead to the development of an anxiety disorder called Agoraphobia. Agoraphobia usually develop over a period of many years but can strike suddenly as well.

Agoraphobia is a disabling condition in which the person fears places that are difficult to escape from or will cause them to be embarrassed. In extreme cases, the person may never or rarely leave their home. Agoraphobia is usually treated in connection with panic disorder as they normally are closely connected.(but not in all cases) People who suffer from panic attacks may also develop other phobias or OCD's. Although it is not know for sure,early treatment of panic attacks could in theory prevent Agoraphobia all together.

Some Things That Can Mimic/Worsen Panic Attacks.

Researchers are not completely sure what causes panic attacks. However genetic and environment conditions may be a factor. If a family member suffers from panic attacks, it seems to be much more likely that you may as well.

Stressful events good or bad can also play a large role in the development of panic attacks. Often at times of change such as marriage/divorce, the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, moving out of a familiar home or community, financial problems and/or a major job change or loss.

There are also several physical ailments and conditions that can mimic the  physical feelings of  panic attacks. Some of the below are know to cause similar symptom. And should be ruled out by your health care provider.

•     Mitral valve prolapse. This is when one of the heart valves does not close off properly. It is not a known to be a serious condition but should be diagnosed and treated to prevent further complications.

   

•     Tachycardia. You may experience a raised heart rate due to a tachycardia attack. This may be a symptom of another heart related syndrome and your doctor will probably suggest an ECG.

•    Hyperthyroidism. This is also often accompanied with a loss of appetite and weight loss. This can be checked with a simple blood test and is treatable. Hyperthyroidism is caused by an over active thyroid.

•     Hypoglycemia. Very low blood sugar levels can cause Panic Like symptoms.   A test of your glucose tolerance can help to determine whether this could be an issue for you.  Hypoglycemia can also be a precursor to diabetes.

•       Overuse or Abuse of  Stimulants. Substances that increases the heart rate such as caffeine, and the abuse of prescription and illegal drugs can cause some of the characteristics of panic attacks.

•     Changes in medications. If you’ve been taking  medication for a long period of time and suddenly stop for some reason, sometimes there can be a physical reaction as your brain adjusts to the different levels of chemicals in your body. If you have been taking medication for a long time, consult your doctor before discontinuing it as this can not only cause panic-like symptoms but can also be very dangerous as well. Some medication also list anxiety and panic as a possible side effect,so that might be something to discuss with your doctor as well.

•     Physical and Mental Exhaustion. Living in a constant state of flux, with high levels of stress and improper sleeping habits may cause adrenal failure which can trigger panic attacks. Adrenal failure is a growing problem in today’s busy life and can lead to hyperthyroidism and other complications if not treated properly.

•     Depression and Many Other Mental Health Issues.can make a person more likely to suffer from panic attacks. It’s important to ensure that you receive the proper treatments including the correct medication and/or therapy for whatever conditions  you are dealing with as this may also help when dealing with panic attacks.

Panic Attacks Guide Free Pdf Download!

Get your free Panic Attacks Guide Today! Just click the ling either in this post the sidebar or click the title of this post.The ebook is 100% free and is about 20 pages long.It contains some of  the information found on this blog and a lot of information not posted here.

The book has a section devoted to inspiring quotes that are related to panic disorder and are an interesting read as well.If you decide to download the book please read the permissions readme file that that goes with it.

Panic Attack Ebook-Submit You link For Inclusion in The Resource Section.

Panic Attack Ebook-Submit You link For Inclusion in The Resource Section.I have almost completed my first ebook on the subject of panic attacks.It will only be between 15 and 20 pages long but is filled with interesting and useful panic attack information.It will also be available as a free download.

I have decided to include a resource section in the book and am offering a limited number of link inclusions for people who have a great informational blog or website.I would also like to include some inspiring stories about overcoming panic attacks,stress and anxiety if anyone would like to share.

One thing I must say is that because this is an informational book I will not include other peoples hoplinks or affiliate links,but may consider including product ads or links to products for a fee as long as they are relevant and useful(I haven't decided for sure yet).Let me know as soon as possible if you have something you would like to have included as I will be releasing the book very soon.. 

Stress-Things You Can Do To Deal More Effectively With It.

Stress is something we all deal with from time to time,but a lot of us do not deal with it as effectively as we would like.Stress can be a very big part of the overall Panic and Anxiety picture since most of the people who suffer from these problems tend to have a hard time keeping the daily stresses of life from becoming overwhelming.

There are some very simple things that can be done to reduce the amount of stress or at the very least,deal with it more effectively.If you are open to some alternative stress reduction techniques some of them may be very effective if done properly.

Below are some of the more common ways that I have come across that may help.Most of them are proven to be effective and are worth considering.That being said not everyone will have the same results so it might be necessary to experiment with different techniques to find the one that works best for you.

• EFT or (emotional freedom technique) is a technique that I have read a lot about but have only tried a couple of times.It involves tapping of certain points on the body to eliminate negative energy,stress.and thoughts.From what I have read about EFT it is useful in the treatment of many illnesses as well as stress and anxiety.to find out more about EFT I suggest visiting your local library,doing a search on google or youtube.(which is were I first discovered the technique.

• Exercise is another easy(and free)way to help control stress.It doesn't matter what type of exercise you choose as long as you find something you like and stick with it.I have said this before in other post but I don't mind repeating myself.

• Meditation is a very common stress reduction technique as well.There are many forms of meditation so finding one that suits your needs should be relatively easy..

• Yoga is something that I have actually tried but am not very good at yet and it really does seem to help.

• Positive Thinking can be a powerful stress buster as well.If you have been a negative person for a long time it may be difficult at first to think more positively,but like they say "practice makes perfect."

• Do something you enjoy.This is one of the things that I find to be the most helpful.It doesn't have to be something that cost money or even anything overly exciting as long as you enjoy doing it.examples(cooking,reading my blog(wink)or surfing the web,playing guitar.

• Laugh.Watch a funny movie,listen to a funny joke,read a funny book.what ever you like,just take a few minutes out of the day to laugh.(it works)

• Write down your thoughts.I try to do this everyday.Its just a good way to keep track of the good times and release the negative emotions about the bad times.

These are just a few of the many ways that are worth considering when trying to effectively deal with the stresses of everyday life and are not necessarily right for everyone.

Panic Attacks-Gain Confidence One Step At A Time.

When you start out on the road to recovery from Panic Attacks,it can be very overwhelming.It can also be very difficult to gain the confidence needed to take the first step in whatever treatment method you choose.If you have struggled with your confidence levels in the past,panic attacks have probably zapped what little confidence you may have had left.

The good news is that the panic attacks recovery process can also help you gain confidence one step at a time.If you have difficulty with certain situations.I suggest choosing to try to overcome the one that cause the least amount of discomfort first,as this will be the easiest one to overcome in most case and will give you the strength and confidence to take on some bigger challenges..

For this example I will use shopping at your local grocery store but it could be any situation that makes you anxious or causes you to panic.You may want to start out very slowly at first until you become more confident in your ability to cope and remember that it will be a slow process in most cases and setbacks are a part of recovery but once progress is made recovery is usually relatively fast..

When you make your first attempt at going to the "grocery store" bring a trusted friend or family member with you if that makes the experience more tolerable.Start out by going as far as you can comfortably,and then leave as soon as you feel the first signs of a panic attack.The next time you go,try to stay a bit longer.When the familiar signs of a panic attack start to emerge this time instead of leaving immediately,try your best to tell yourself that you are perfectly safe and that the symptoms will subside.Eventually you will have to try to remain in the situation until the symptoms are gone or at the very least tolerable.If the symptoms become to much to handle always give yourself permission to leave.

Being overly critical of your actions will only make your confidence problems worse.Like the old saying goes if at first you don't succeed try,try again.It is also recommended that you keep some sort of record of your attempts so you can refer to them at a later date.I keep a journal that i write mostly about my successes and not so much about my failures as focusing too much on your failed attempts can have a negative effect on your confidence which is of course what we are trying to build upon to help us to overcome our panic attacks.

The technique is basically a for of exposure therapy and you will most likely have to practice this everyday or at least as much as possible for it to help.So now that we have made some successful attempts at overcoming our panic attacks our confidence should be to the point were we can try to put ourselves into these situations with little or no assistance and cope fairly well with the symptoms.This of course is only one of the many techniques that are helpful in dealing with panic attacks and may not be right for everyone.However I have found it very effective.

I will be dedicating a couple of my future posts to the subject of confidence building,and since I am by no means an expert on the topic I will make some resources available for anyone who is interested.I would also be very interested in your comments and suggestion on that and any other topic you wish to discuss..