GAD or Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Disorder - do you know the difference? Anxiety - Common psychological symptoms of anxiety include irritability, intense fear, worry, difficulty concentrating, and a general "keyed up" feeling - often for the smallest reason that can almost always be found.
Generalized anxiety disorder or GAD sufferers usually experience ongoing worry or fear that isn't related to a particular event or situation. This anxiety is often focused on daily matters such as job responsibilities and health or somewhat trivial concerns like chores and appointments.
Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder include physical tension, fast heartbeat, irritability, insomnia, and difficulty concentrating. People with generalized anxiety disorder often feel helpless and unable to control their anxiety, which can potentially interfere with daily functioning.
Panic disorder is characterized by repeated periods of extreme panic, called panic attacks, which typically last for between five to 30 minutes. During a panic attack, a person feels suddenly overwhelmed and terrified and experiences physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, sweating, shaking, rapid heartbeat, and a sense of being in an unreal setting or disconnected from reality.
Because panic attack symptoms are so severe, many people with panic disorder believe they are having a heart attack or dying. Anticipatory fear of having a panic attack can lead people to avoid going out in public.
What to do. Although generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder have separate and distinct symptoms, both can be effectively treated with psychotherapy and medication -- either alone or in combination. Treatment often provides significant relief from symptoms for both conditions.
Just knowing exactly what it is that's causing such horrible symptoms is a great first step. There's nothing more terrifying than experiencing some of these symptoms and worrying that it's your heart. Knowledge is always power!
Good psychotherapy will include finding out exactly what's behind these problems, exploring clients' needs and helping them to address them. When the brain understands exactly what's triggering certain behaviour it's not so likely to be able to 'get away' with it, unnoticed... NVC is always a great foundation and could then be followed with Focusing Oriented Therapy, EMDR (Rapid Eye Movement) and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural).
Occasionally a brain injury or other traumatic event - often emotional rather than physical - will bring on such symptoms. If that's the case for you - or for someone you know - please check out ReBuildingYou or forward them the url for this page. There are lots of unique articles there to read - and some useful practical tips.