GAD, Panic Attacks, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome

GAD General Anxiety Disorder GAD is characterized by exaggerated anxiety or worry about everyday life

Symptoms Symptoms of GAD include Excessive, ongoing worry about everyday life An unrealistic view of problems Muscle tension Headaches Sweating etc.

Causes There is no definite cause to GAD but a number of factors appear to trigger it. Genetics Brain chemistry environmental stresses

Genetics some research suggest that family history plays a part in the increasing the likelihood that a person will develop GAD. This means that the tendency to develop GAD may be passed on in families.

Brain Chemistry GAD has been associated with abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are special chemical messengers that help move information from nerve cell to nerve cell. If the neurotransmitters are out of balance, messages cannot get through the brain properly. This can alter the way the brain reacts in certain situations, leading to anxiety.

Environmental factors Trauma and stressful events, such as abuse, the death of a loved one, divorce, changing jobs or schools, may lead to GAD. GAD also may become worse during the periods of stress. The use of and withdrawal from addictive substances, including alcohol, caffeine and nicotine, can also worsen anxiety.

diagnosis If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by asking questions about your medical history and performing a physical examination. Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose anxiety disorders, the doctor may use various tests to look for physical illness as the cause of the symptoms.

How is it treated? If there is no physical illness found, you may be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist, mental health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illnesses. Treatment for GAD most often includes a combination of medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Other treatment options Medications are available to treat GAD and may be especially helpful for people whose anxiety is interfering with daily functioning. The medications most often used to treat GAD are from a class of drugs called benzodiazepines.

Reactions Sometimes these medications are sometimes referred to as “tranquilizers,” because they leave you feeling calm and relaxed. They work by decreasing the physical symptoms of GAD, such as muscle tension and restlessness. Common medications include Xanax, Librium, Valium, and antivan, and BuSpar.

BuSpar This drug may be used to treat chronic anxiety. BuSpar works by affecting activity of certain neurotransmitters, including serotonin. BuSpar does not cause sleepiness or lead to dependency. Antidepressants, such as Paxil and Effexor, are also being used to treat GAD.

Panic Attacks Panic attacks are sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning. These episodes can occur at any time, even during sleep. A person experiencing a panic attack may believe that he or she is having a heart attack or that death is imminent. The fear and terror that a person is experiences during a panic attack are not in proportion to the true situation and may be unrelated to what is happening around them.

Symptoms Most people with panic attacks experience several of the following symptoms: “racing heart” Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy Tingling or numbness in the hand and fingers Sense of terror, or impending doom or death Etc.

About Panic Attacks Panic attacks are generally brief, lasting less than 10 minutes, although some of the symptoms may persist for a longer time. People who have had one panic attack are at greater risk for having subsequent panic attacks than those who have never experienced a panic attack. When the attacks occur repeatedly, a person is considered to have a condition known as panic disorder.

More People with panic disorder are very fearful, because they are enable to predict when the next episode will occur. Panic disorder is fairly common today, about 2.4 million people in the U.S., or 1.7% of the adult population between the ages of 18-54. Women are TWICE as likely as men to develop this condition, and the symptoms begin in early adulthood.

Likelihoods People who suffer from depression, attempt suicide, or to abuse alcohol or drugs. BUT panic disorder is a treatable condition. Psychotherapy and medications have both been used, either singly or in combination.

Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome

What is it? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been a part of organized psychiatry for only the past twenty years. The concept of PTSD, however, has been well known for over a hundred years under a variety of different names. During world war I, PTSD was called shell shock, and during WW II, it was referred to as combat fatigue.

How does it happen? Trauma occurs when a person has experienced, witnessed, or been confronted with a terrible event that is actual occurrence, or the person may have been threatened with a terrible event, perhaps injury (physical or psychological) or death to themselves or others. The person’s response to the event or to the threat involves intense fear, helplessness, and/or horror.

Symptoms Re-experiencing the trauma Persistent avoidance Increased arousal

Re-experiencing the trauma The person may have a distressing recollection of the trauma For example the person may experience remembering the trauma, through a terrible dream, nightmares, or as daytime flashbacks of the event. When this happens it often makes the person sweat, and have a rapid heartbeat.

Persistent Avoidance This refers to the person’s efforts to avoid trauma-related thoughts or feelings and activities or situations that may trigger memories of the trauma. This emotionally caused loss of memory for the event can lead up to a variety of reactions. Like the patient may develop a diminished interest in activities that used to give pleasure, detachment from other people, restricted range of feelings, and a sad affect that leads to the view that the future will be shortened.

Increased arousal Such symptoms include sleep, disturbances, irritability, outburst of anger, difficulty concentrating, increased vigilance, and an exaggerated startle response when shocked.

diagnosis If symptoms last for more than one month then the diagnosis of PTSD can be made. If it last for more than three months then the diagnosis of PTSD is chronic (long duration.) Often symptoms last for six months Sometimes doctors prefer to contact the person right after the event to talk about it Studies have shown that that is the best way to take on post traumatic stress syndrome.

How is it treated? Treatment options: Individual psychotherapy that is targeted at symptom clusters Peer group support (highly recommended for chronic PTSD) medication

What kind of psychotherapy? Psychodynamic psychotherapy-focuses on post traumas and how they are rekindled by the present experiences. Usually psychotherapy that focuses on the symptoms is what is recommended.

Drug treatment Sometimes antidepressants are referred such drugs like impranmine and phenelzine that alter neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, and acetylcholine have been found to do more than reduce flashbacks and the feelings of helplessness more than a placebo (a dummy pill.) unfortunately there are side affects.

Getting Help Many people decide to go and get help from mental institutions You may be referred by a family doctor, mental health specialist, religious leaders etc. These institutes offer healthcare services, including medical and rehabilitative, in addition to readjustment counseling.

Sources http://www.medicinenet.com/anxiety/article.htm http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/panic-attacks/DS00338 http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anxiety/article_em.htm http://www.adaa.org/GettingHelp/AnxietyDisorders/Panicattack.asp

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