If someone you know has recently been diagnosed or is simply having a difficult time, you may find yourself desperately looking to answer the question “What is chronic anxiety disorder?”
Chronic anxiety disorder is the term that many people apply to what is known in the mental health field as “generalized anxiety disorder” (GAD). No matter which term you feel more comfortable using, there is a lot to learn about chronic anxiety disorder, including the signs and symptoms, overall effects, and potential treatment options.
The Symptoms
Not everyone who is diagnosed with GAD or chronic anxiety disorder can expect identical symptoms and experiences, so it’s hard to always know what is to be expected. That said, there is a fairly well-established list of symptoms from which one might draw when trying to determine if they are actually suffering from this type of anxiety.
Those with a chronic anxiety disorder generally find themselves worrying about certain things far more than others might think is appropriate. Some common concerns include health, money, family, relationships, work, and even death. While it is reasonable for any person to think or worry about each of these things from time to time, someone with chronic anxiety disorder will spend an excessive amount of time and energy worrying about and planning for disasters related to their particular concern.
The increased level of anxiety felt by the individual can lead to a number of physical symptoms. Anxiety often manifests as irritability, fatigue, jitters, restlessness, insomnia, and much more. Sufferers may experience frequent headaches and nausea, in addition to muscle tension and pain, numbness, and trouble concentrating. When these types of symptoms have been ongoing for a period of six months or more, a mental health professional may diagnose a patient with GAD (chronic anxiety disorder).
The Effects
So, what is chronic anxiety disorder really doing to the sufferer and his or her life? One major concern is that the anxiety disorder is often accompanied by other difficulties. More than half of those with major depression, for example, find that they also have some sort of anxiety disorder. There is also a very high instance of substance abuse among those diagnosed with chronic anxiety disorder. In an attempt to “self medicate,” many people unwittingly increase their anxiety levels in this way.
As mentioned above, anxiety disorders can also lead to physical discomfort, whether in the form of shortness of breath or other acute symptoms, or through something ongoing such as insomnia. Again, these issues can compound the anxiety that set the whole process in motion in the first place.
If left untreated, chronic anxiety disorder can continue at its present level of discomfort or even continue to increase. Those affected may find that their relationships suffer as friends and family pull away from them and their negative attitudes and behaviors. In some cases, the anxiety can grow until it manifests as phobias that severely restrict a person’s independence. Read here for more on chronic anxiety symptoms.
Treatment
There are a variety of chronic anxiety treatment options available for those suffering from chronic anxiety disorder, with differing levels of success. For example, many selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used in the medicinal treatment of the disorder. These are not the only pharmacological options, however, with some patients benefiting from benzodiazepines and other medications.
Therapy is also a common treatment for chronic anxiety disorder, with the “cognitive behavioral therapy” (CBT) approach being the most effective approach…even more so than medication. CBT helps the patient to understand the thought processes that influence and are influenced by behavior in order to replace negative thought patters with positive ones. This type of therapy may be used in conjunction with medication.
Other Considerations
The absolute cause of these types of disorders is not entirely known, but there are some likely factors. For example, some studies are showing that there may be a genetic link, as chronic anxiety seems to run in families. Excessive stress can also contribute to the onset of the disorder. Long-term use of alcohol has also been found to have a major influence on the development of chronic anxiety disorder, with evidence showing that abstinence from alcohol can (after a withdrawal period) cause symptoms to completely disappear.
Trying to determine what is the best chronic anxiety disorder treatment may take multiple approaches and include the help of medical or mental health professional.
