Mental Health Focus: Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, worry or fear. It can range from a mild feeling to a debilitating condition.?

We all feel anxiety at some point in our life, such as before a big exam, exciting first date, medical operation or job interview.?

Anxiety is also an evolutionary advantage that enables us to identify danger and act on it.?

But some people find it difficult to control these feelings of anxiety and it can affect their lives.?

Anxiety is actually a symptom of several conditions, including panic disorder, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social anxiety disorder. In this article, we will discuss anxiety in the context of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

GAD is a long term condition that millions of people suffer from. It means that you feel anxious about a wide range of issues and situations rather than one specific thing.?

Symptoms

The symptoms of GAD are physical as well as mental. These can vary from person to person and from day to day but can include:?

• Feeling restless or worried
• Having trouble concentrating or sleeping
• Dizziness or heart palpitations

Causes

The causes aren’t well known for GAD and, like many mental health conditions, many factors are thought to play a role:

• Your genetic predisposition
• A history of traumatic experiences
• Long-term health conditions
• History of drug and alcohol misuse
• There are more women affected than men and it is more common between the ages of 35 and 55

As much as they may play a role, many people have GAD who have experienced none of the above, and some may experience them all without any GAD.?

Treatment

If you suspect you have GAD please seek treatment, especially if it is starting to affect your daily life and activities. Treatments that the doctor advises will vary depending on the severity of your symptoms.

Treatments include:

• Psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) or counselling
• Medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Self-treatment (exercising regularly, not smoking, looking after your physical health, going on a self-help course)