Generalized Anxiety: living in continuous worry

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by the presence of constant worry and anxiety for no apparent reason. Unlike other types of anxiety, the causes are not easily identified.

In this article We will see what Generalized Anxiety consists of, and how to recognize it.

• Related article: "What is anxiety: how to recognize it and what to do"

What is Generalized Anxiety?

Generalized Anxiety presents a different pattern in people's daily habits and routines; It is present in the workplace, family, academic, health, social, etc. It arises with the manifestation of an excessive concern that maximizes the importance of the problems and makes us see serious problems when analyzing any situation that other people would consider normal, giving more weight to the event than actually have.

It is possible that the symptoms are explained by the influence of some medication, by the consumption of drugs or specific drugs, such as medication to a physical illness. In this case, Generalized Anxiety Disorder is not diagnosed. Generalized Anxiety is often present in other mood disorders.

Constant worry

Concern is the concern that one has before a certain circumstance. For example, that you are worried about the payments and expenses of the month, to get a better job, to pass an exam at the university, etc.

However, worry becomes pathological when well-being is affected and the ability to manage the unforeseen, and even more so to prepare for them. It is a discomfort that is accompanied by physical and emotional manifestations that are disproportionate to the magnitude of the problem faced.

That is, you may be worried about things in the daily routine, but if you only make forecasts, they are catastrophic and restlessness torments, anxiety overflows and becomes pathological.

When anxiety is pathological, the responses are exaggerated and its effects have greater intensity and duration, attention is focused on the fear of consequences and not the threat itself. There is an unrealistic pressure where problems are maximized and the ability to solve them is blocked, due to that anxiety affects the ability to reason and the use of tools to cope situations. Pathological anxiety occurs in all anxiety disorders.

Symptoms

Some of the most common symptoms of Generalized Anxiety They are:

• Constant restlessness
• Irritability.
• Muscle tension.
• Fatigue.
• Difficult to focus.
• Sleep disorders.
• Social deterioration in interpersonal relationships in all areas of development of the person.
• Depersonalization.
• Fear of losing control.

And the most useful physical symptoms are:

• Palpitations
• Sweating
• Tachycardia, choking sensation.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Sickness.
• Shaking chills.
• Difficulty relaxing.

These symptoms make it difficult for a person to perform in normal life activities. Symptoms present differently for each individual, what is maintained for everyone is that Generalized Anxiety is a way of interacting with the world and interpreting it from an anxious vision, which It is not related to any particular fear such as phobias or panic disorders, but is present in all the scenarios of our lives.

Causes

The causes of the appearance of Generalized Anxiety Disorder can be traumatic experiences, personality factors, genetic predisposition to stress or the environment where we develop. However, objective estimates of the causes will depend on each person.

In some cases personality characteristics such as dependence influence the appearance of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, since the dependency requires the approval of others for decision-making and difficulties arise in assuming responsibilities on their own, resulting in anxiety.

Therefore, it is important identify all the aspects involved to determine the origin of the diagnosis and if it is only Generalized Anxiety, since in most cases it is associated with other disorders.

• You may be interested: "Panic disorder: symptoms, causes and treatment"

Adaptive anxiety

The anxiety It is an adaptive behavior and is activated when we perceive danger or threat; the reaction generates an effect on our body and mind that predisposes us to adapt to challenges.

It is natural that we are on alert when we live in a situation that is not optimal, even if it does not imply danger. For example, when crossing the street you are in a state of alert before the vehicles around us; but that should not produce other symptoms that exacerbate and maximize a routine situation.

It should be natural for us to be able to face new or unfamiliar situations where we do an analysis that helps to better manage worry and nervousness to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

On the contrary, if you suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, you will be constantly feeling fear during your normal day activities, you will worry excessively and present the aforementioned physical symptoms.

Psychotherapy

If you have frequent symptoms of anxiety and feel that they prevent you from doing activities and they harm your interactions in different areas of life, this means that you are presenting characteristics of the Disorder of Generalized Anxiety, for which you should consult a psychologist, who can give you therapeutic tools to learn to regulate your anxiety.