General Anxiety Disorder can be difficult to diagnose.
It's a loose and vaguely understood condition that many scientists and doctors disagree about.
But it is serious and it definitely warrants your attention.
People with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) experience a nearly constant and deep feeling of worry.
This feeling of worry can be extreme and usually illogical and unwarranted for the situation.
Here are some symptoms that you might have General Anxiety Disorder.
- Worry about a number of things outside of your control - Worrying where there is no real need for concern - An unrealistic and disproportionate view on everyday problems - A magnified sense of uneasiness or anxiety - A feeling of irritability and tension - Inexplicable muscle aches and tension - Persistent headaches and nausea People with General Anxiety Disorder often have other socio-psychological disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or manic-depressive disorder.
They frequently battle with addiction and other self-harmful problems.
They oftentimes also suffer from depression.
Experts disagree on the exact causes of GAD, but most agree that there are three likely explanations.
Some say that it is a genetic condition that is passed down through the family lineage.
Others suggest that there is something in the chemical functioning and make-up of the brain and its neuro-transmitters that is out of balance, leading to the sense of worry.
Others feel like environmental factors such as stress or trauma might trigger anxiety.
There are approximately 7 million people with GAD.
Nearly all of these cases are mild and can be controlled and treated and sometimes cured with a bit of self-help.
A lot of it is common sense.
Is there a particular set of circumstances that cause you such irrational worry? Perhaps you have an anxiety when it comes to finances.
A financial planning service might go a long way in quelling your worries.
Other things like planning de-stressing activities like exercise or a peaceful hobby might help reduce your overall stress level.
However, if you find that your General Anxiety Disorder is interfering with your ability to conduct your day-to-day life, is damaging your interpersonal relationships or making work or school difficult, you might want to consult a physician.
Most medical professionals won't diagnose GAD unless symptoms appear regularly over a six month span.
Controlling Anxiety Levels of anxiety range from occasional bouts to severe, chronic anxiety.
If you suffer from anxiety frequently, it can disrupt your sleep, ability to concentrate, your efficacy at work, memory and be an altogether unpleasant physical experience.
Unchecked, anxiety can lead to depression and a number of other serious health problems, including a suppressed immune system response, high blood pressure and a stressed heart.
Controlling anxiety requires a proactive strategy.
While there are medications to help control anxiety, these should be taken only on a temporary basis.
Most anti-anxiety medications, while controlling anxiety, always have an addictive potential in varying degrees.
This can lead to you requiring a stronger dose and eventually, a withdrawal process, should you decide to stop taking the medication, which, ironically involves anxiety.
Then you're back at square one! Five Techniques for Controlling Anxiety Naturally 1.
Be good to yourself, take a break.
Sit down and lean back, taking slow, even breaths.
If you've reached the stage of hyperventilating, breath into a paper bag, slowly inhaling and exhaling.
Then go and run a hot tub and bring a book.
2.
Meditation helps you to relax and clear your mind.
Browse the book shops for a primer on meditation techniques.
3.
Roll up your sleeves and apply a goodly amount of elbow grease to a task that gets your circulation going and focuses your mind on the task at hand.
Clean the oven, vacuum, pull weeds or dig a planting area in the garden.
Wash and polish your car by hand.
Clean out a messy section of the garage.
You'll find that concentrating on a mundane task helps alleviate anxiousness.
4.
Conventional exercise is another good method of controlling anxiety.
Go for a bike ride, or take a brisk walk.
A few jumping jacks, sit-ups or push-ups, for just 15 minutes can do the trick.
5.
Aromatherapy is another natural method for controlling anxiety.
One especially helpful essential oil is lavender, which helps promote relaxation and also provides relief from tension headaches.
You can place a dab of lavender oil on each temple for marvelous relief.
You can also buy or make a lavender pillow or eye mask.
The fragrance of lavender is the key to this simple, but highly effective solution to controlling anxiety before it overwhelms you.
This solution can be used in that hot bath too.
Make a fist sized bag of a loose weave of muslin, fill it with lavender flowers, tie it shut and hang the bag from the faucet.
Close the shower curtain and breathe the resulting fragrant air.
Just be careful you don't fall asleep! Each of these five techniques works.
Try each of them and decide which works best for you.
Controlling anxiety doesn't have to be difficult.
It's just a matter of using some simple techniques.
General Anxiety Disorder doesn't need to take over your life.
It isn't a myth and it isn't "all in your head".
You can get the help you need or even give yourself the help you need!