This was taken from a website we use as a resource. If you have any questions please PM me and ask. There are no miracle cures for anxiety. More people than you may realize suffer from it. Please seek help, as with depression, it could become worse if left untreated. Everyone has different triggers. They key is to find a good counselor and go to group meetings. I know that's probably not what you want to hear, but it's the best way to treat it.
"he American Psychiatric Association (APA) provides the criteria for diagnosis of general anxiety disorder
Diagnostic Criteria for Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occuring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).
The person finds it difficult to control the worry.
The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past 6 months). Note: Only one item is required in children.
Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
Being easily fatigued
Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
Irritability
Muscle tension
Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep)
The focus of anxiety and worry is not confined to features of an Axis I disorder, e.g., the anxiety or worry is not about having a panic attack (as in panic disorder), being embarrassed in public (as in social phobia), being contaminated (as in obsessive-compulsive disorder), being away from home or close relatives (as in separation anxiety disorder), gaining weight (as in anorexia nervosa), having multiple physical complaints (as in somatization disorder), or having a serious illness (as in hypochondriasis), and the anxiety and worry do no occur exclusively during posttraumatic stress disorder.
The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism) and does not occur exclusively during a mood disorder, a psychotic disorder, or a pervasive developmental disorder.
APA. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. 1994. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association (APA).
Differential Diagnosis
GAD must be differentiated from the following:
Anxiety as a result of an organic cause
Anxiety triggered by a specific situation
Normal anxiety in response to stress
Because brief anxiety is a normal reaction common in specific situations, it is different than generalized, chronic anxiety. GAD must also be distinguished from other psychiatric disorders, medical conditions, and drug-related conditions.
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Psychiatric disorders that may cause symptoms similar to GAD include the following:
Major depressive disorder
Other anxiety disorders
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
HYPERLINK "http://www.mentalhealthchannel.net/panicdisorder/index.shtml"Panic disorder
Phobias
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Schizophrenia
Depression and anxiety often occur simultaneously, and each must be evaluated to make an appropriate treatment plan. When the anxiety is focused on certain situations, as in OCD or PTSD, and when it is expressed as panic, it is diagnosed and treated as such.
Anxiety also is associated with drug and alcohol abuse. It is a symptom of withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazapines, cocaine, marijuana, and SSRIs. Certain stimulants (e.g., amphetamines, asthma medication, caffeine) can produce anxiety in the user.
Organic causes of anxiety include the following medical and substance-related conditions.
Medical conditions
Cardiac disease
Hyperthyroidism (sweating, irritability)
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Heart attack
Pulmonary embolus (blood clot in pulmonary artery)
Tachycardia (increased heart rate)
Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE)
Treatment
Treatment for anxiety
combines medication and psychotherapy.
Medication
GAD is treated with the following types of drugs:
- Antidepressants
- Benzodiazepines
- Beta-blockers
- Buspirone
Drug choice is determined by the patient's ability to tolerate side effects and by the drug's effectiveness in reducing symptoms.
Psychotherapy
The goal of dynamic psychotherapy is to identify and explore the causes of anxiety and what they mean to the patient. A therapist may work with the patient on a number of exercises, including stress evaluation and techniques to be practiced while the patient is on his or her own.
The goal of behavior therapy is to establish coping strategies for anxiety. Behavior and cognitive therapy overlap, because new behavior is only possible after a person is able to replace irrational, anxious thoughts with healthy ones. Methods include the following:
- Biofeedback
- Controlled exposure to anxiety-causing situations
- Meditation
- Planning relaxed events and relaxation training "