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GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDERDISCLAIMER: THIS IS A PROJECT FOR A HIGH SCHOOL AP PSYCHOLOGY COURSE. THIS IS A FICTIONALIZED ACCOUNT OF HAVING A PHSCHOLOGICAL AILMENT. FOR QUESTIONS
ABOUT THIS BLOG PROJECT OR ITS CONTENT PLEASE EMAIL THE TEACHER, LAURA ASTORIAN: [email protected]
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
◦ Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a type of an
Anxiety Disorder
◦ Definition: Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD is
a mental disorder in which individuals suffer from
excessive anxiety and stress that is uncontrollable,
that results in interference to activities of daily living
that should not normally result in that level of
anxiety
What is GAD caused by?
◦ Nature versus Nurture
◦ Suspected to be caused by environmental and hereditable
factors
◦ Some individuals have no family history of the disorder and
are believed to have acquired the disorder from
environmental factors
◦ Other individuals who suffer from the disorder have a
family history
◦ It is sometimes brought on by a life stressor
◦ May be caused by long-term addiction to dangerous
substances such as tobacco, alcohol, etc.
How does it affect the brain?
◦ GAD results in malfunctioned connections to the
amygdala
◦ The brain does not properly process fear and anxiety
◦ Remember, the amygdala is responsible for types of
memory, problem solving, and emotional responses
What are Related Neurotransmitters
◦ GABA
◦ Disruptions with the GABA Neurotransmitters may be
related to GAD
◦ Serotonin
◦ Insufficient levels of Serotonin
◦ Norepinephrine
◦ Elevated Norepinephrine (also more commonly known as
adrenaline) levels
What are the Signs and Symptoms?
◦ Mental Symptoms
◦ Inability to ease feelings of anxiety
◦ Pessimistic Attitude towards new situations
◦ Disproportional stress and anxiety and worrying
regarding situations
◦ Inability to ease worrying
◦ Difficulty handling worrying
◦ Anxiety about the possibility of worrying
◦ Physical Symptoms
◦ Difficulty Sleeping/Excessive Tiredness
◦ Nausea/Diarrhea/Irritable Bowel Syndrome
◦ Excessive Sweating or Twitching
What are the Signs and Symptoms? (continued)◦ Symptoms vary in children
◦ Children often:
◦ Exhibit Perfectionist tendencies
◦ Struggle with self confidence issues
◦ Look for extrinsic approval and motivation
◦ Feel excessive anxiety regarding social situations
How is it diagnosed?
◦ There are no specific tests to diagnose Generalized
Anxiety Disorder
◦ If you believe you may be suffering from the
disorder, you should visit a doctor or psychologist or
psychiatrist
◦ Your doctor may determine your physical and
psychological symptoms
◦ The doctor then determines according to the DSM V
and other resources how severe and whether you
should be diagnosed with the disorder
How is it treated?
◦ It is either treated with therapy or medications
◦ Cognitive-behavioral therapy
◦ Medications
What does cognitive-behavioral therapy?
◦ Sometimes, individual lifestyle changes may assist
an individual to cope with Generalized Anxiety
Disorder
◦ Usually therapy is in the form of Cognitive-
Behavioral Therapy
◦ In this type of therapy, individuals suffering from
Generalized Anxiety Disorder work with a
professional to determine when such situations are
likely to occur and the best way to cope with them
What types of medications should people take?◦ Medications should be taken with caution as they
may induce addictions which may induce substance
abuse problems. Anxiety medications may also
interfere with activities of daily living by decreasing
memory and functioning capacity
◦ Benzodiazepines
◦ Tranquilizers that decrease the symptoms of anxiety
◦ Xanax, Librium, Valium, Ativan
◦ Antidepressants represent a more long-term treatment
◦ Paxil, Effexor, Prozac, Lexapro
Statistics about GAD
◦ 4 million Americans suffer from Generalized
Anxiety Disorder
◦ More women have been diagnosed with the disorder
compared to their male counterparts
◦ The majority of cases are diagnosed in young adults
and in children.
◦ However, adults are still frequently diagnosed
◦ Average Onset occurs at 31 years of age
SO WHAT DOES IT REALLY FEEL LIKE?
Quotes that people with GAD might say that demonstrate what GAD can really feel like
Worrying
◦ “I was always worried. However, before I was
diagnosed, I always felt like this was normal. That is,
until it started being debilitating to my life.”
Worrying (Continued)
◦ “I could have nothing to worry about, but I would still
worry. About what? Everything. It was inescapable, and
I felt myself falling deeper and deeper.”
Escaping the Worrying
◦ “Whenever I would try to escape the worrying, I’d try
to escape the situation that was stressing me out. I
would try going out with my friends, but the anxiety
never left. It would just be replaced with anxiety
about something else.”
Worrying about Worrying
◦ “Sometimes, I worry about the potential for
worrying. It can take over every day of my life.”
Sleeping Problems
◦ “I have difficulty falling asleep and sometimes wake
up during the night with sweaty skin and a racing
heart with general feelings of anxiety.”
Gastrointestinal Problems
◦ “I would get terrible nausea, and always attributed
it to other causes. I would get these terrible knots
in my stomach that felt like ulcers. I thought I had
a GI problem, but then I realized it was GAD.”
Childhood Struggles
◦ “I always feel the need to submit perfect work in
school. When I don’t think it’s good enough, I
sometimes will do it and redo it to make sure it is
perfect so I make my teacher and my family
happy.”
Post-Treatment
◦ “I still struggle with Generalized Anxiety Disorder
even after I take medicine and go to therapy. People
think it magically goes away, and while I still feel
better, I still struggle daily with the disorder.”
Sources◦ http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/generalized-anxiety-disorder/causes.html
◦ http://www.livestrong.com/article/94954-neurotransmitters-involved-anxiety-disorder/
◦ http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/generalized-anxiety-disorder?page=2#1
◦ http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad/index.shtml
◦ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder/basics/tests-diagnosis/con-20024562
◦ http://www.calmclinic.com/images/gs/anxiety-prevalence-of-gad.jpeg
◦ http://www.mysahana.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/GAD.jpg
◦ http://curegeneralizedanxietydisorderwithoutdrugs.7lds.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/anxiety-circle.jpg?e6c294
◦ http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/336/f/2/nightmare_disorder_by_embracelife-d343y2p.jpg
◦ http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1168576/images/o-PERFECTIONIST-facebook.jpg
◦ http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/07/09/health/anxiety_190_245.jpg
◦ http://www.agemanagementmi.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/abdominal-pain2-photo1.jpg
Sources Continued
◦ http://www.psychologynoteshq.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/generalizedanxietydisorder-550x366.jpg
◦ http://www.psychologynoteshq.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/generalizedanxietydisorder-550x366.jpg
◦ http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/298/0/9/generalized_anxiety_disorder_by_embracelife-
d31j8um.jpg
◦ http://www.motive.com.tw/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/anxietybannerwoman.jpg
◦ http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/Midazolam.JPG
◦ http://www.drcarnazzo.com/uploads/1/3/4/3/13437686/1089509_orig.jpg?1349886772
◦ http://www.healthwise.org/hwImages/images/insights/InformationTherapy.jpg
Sources (continued)
◦ http://www.altanamonitor.co.za/file.php/1/Stressors.gif
◦ http://brainmadesimple.com/uploads/7/8/8/5/7885523/_4755829.png
◦ http://www.pharmacology.us/ContentPics/634546288086850239GABA%20receptor.jpg
◦ http://th08.deviantart.net/fs14/200H/i/2007/036/0/5/Social_Phobia_by_ChrystasRose.jpg
◦ http://th08.deviantart.net/fs14/200H/i/2007/036/0/5/Social_Phobia_by_ChrystasRose.jpg
◦ http://www.anxiety-treatments.com/wp-content/uploads/anxiety-cartoon-459.jpg
