Generalized Anxiety Disorder Causes
September 29, 2008 by Alex Taylor · Comments Off
As with all forms of anxiety disorder, no one can be certain of the exact causes of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Research is taking place all the time that will eventually allow us to better understand the true root-causes of GAD, which in turn may well make it possible prevent the condition from ever occurring.
Chemical Imbalances:
Chemical imbalances are one of the areas being looked into, and many doctors believe this to be the most common cause of GAD. A large proportion of people with GAD have atypical levels of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain. These are the neurotransmitters - they carry signals and messages across nerve endings. When there is an imbalance in these chemicals a person can be predisposed to much higher levels of anxiety than in someone who does not have the same imbalances.
Heredity:
Another area that’s being heavily researched is heredity, with many respected doctors believing that generalized anxiety disorder runs in families. There is already some evidence that you are more likely to develop GAD at some point in your life if someone in your immediate family also has the condition.
Lifestyle Factors:
A theory that’s gaining momentum is that GAD is a learned condition, brought about by life experiences, especially those experienced as a child. This theory also suggests that heredity may not be such a powerful causing factor in GAD, and that the condition may run in families because members of the same family are exposed to the same experiences over a period of many years.
Learn More About The Causes of GAD:
If you’d like to look further into the potential causes and risk factors associated with generalized anxiety disorder, take a look at the Mayo Clinic’s GAD Causes Page.
You might also want to take a look at my dedicated anxiety causes page, which goes into more detail on the subjects I’ve touched on above on this page.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder In Children
September 27, 2008 by Alex Taylor · Comments Off
Generalized anxiety disorder in children is often misunderstood or misdiagnosed in favour of other more common mental disorders such as ADHD and bipolar disorder, even though generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) affects as many as 3% of all children.
With such a large proportion of children being affected by GAD, it’s vital that it is better understood.
GAD Symptoms In Children:
As with adults who have GAD, children will experience many of the common anxiety-related symptoms - palpitations, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, sweating, insomnia, muscle twitches, and headaches, to name just a few.
Children with GAD will also often experience excessive and uncontrollable worry about things such as school, their family, their family’s collective health, their own health, their involvement with sports and other physical activities, and sometimes the news they see on TV and other world events.
Treatment of GAD In Children:
Children with GAD have the same treatment options available to them as adults. These treatment options fall into two main categories - anxiety drugs and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
The use of medication for any form of anxiety disorder in children is often not considered, understandably, due to a wish to overcome the problem naturally. For this reason, CBT if often the choice for many doctors who are faced with a young patient with anxiety-related problems. In severe cases, however, medication may be given in the short-term.
Since natural therapies are considered the best option for children with generalized anxiety disorder, many parents are choosing to go through my free online video course “Beat Panic Today” in an effort to help their child through their problem. In fact, many children have stumbled onto this site on their own and have made good progress after going through the course.
Once you’ve signed up for the free video course you’ll also receive my weekly newsletter offering tips and advice on ways to overcome all forms of anxiety through brand new videos, podcasts, and e-books.
Learn More About GAD In Children:
For more excellent information on GAD in children, take a look at this Children’s Hospital Page On Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment
September 26, 2008 by Alex Taylor · Comments Off
There are several options when it comes to generalized anxiety disorder treatment. Some may prove more successful than others in certain individuals. The only real way to find out if any given treatment option will work for you is to try it.
The main options available to you will be the various anti-anxiety drugs, which will usually be in the form of an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). Your doctor may also suggest the short-term use of a sedative from the Benzodiazepine family of drugs.
The other traditional option is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a therapy based on the reconditioning of thinking patterns.
If you’ve already exhausted all the traditional options available to you, and you’ve not made satisfactory progress, give my free video course and weekly newsletter a try. They’re proving incredibly successful with thousands of people all around the world.
For a closer look at the more traditional approaches, check out the dedicated anxiety treatment page.
