Anxiety
Anxiety is most often defined as exaggerated worry and distress over everyday life. Those who have anxiety often feel that they need to constantly worry about friends, family, money, work or just life in general. This is a debilitating disease because it can eventually lead to the person's life being consumed by constant fear. It may affect his/her emotional and physical health along with their personal relationships.
Scientists and doctors have research on this topic extensively, but what causes anxiety is still open to debate. Most doctors believe that family history, brain chemistry (abnormal levels of neurotransmitters), and environmental factors (stressful events, family problems, death, and change) contribute to the actions by the patient. Unfortunately, those who suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorders also suffer from problems such as panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Childhood and adolescence is where the first signs of anxiety appear. Often times, the signs and symptoms are standard for most who exhibit the disease. The anxiety disorder that a person may suffer from mostly effects them mentally and alters their thinking. Common symptoms usually include constant tension, unrealistic view of problems, headaches, sweating, nausea, difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, and being easily irritated. If a patient is concerned that he or she is exhibiting any of these symptoms and talks to a health care provider, they will be asked a number of questions in order to evaluate the illness. There are no scientific or laboratory based tests that can determine this illness, but a doctor may perform other types of test to see whether or not this is the only condition that they suffer from. If no other health complications are determined from the testing completed by the doctor, other measures may be taken for treatment.
There are certain ways that a doctor may treat GAD. One of the most common ways is referring the patient to a person who specializes in metal health cases such as a psychologist or psychiatrist. Often times, therapy sessions may be combined with some sort of medication prescribed by the doctor in charge of treatment. Most of these medications are able to comfort the patient, making them calm and able to relax. Antidepressants are sometimes administered, but doctors choose to follow different alternatives before turning to prescribed medications.
