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| Generalized Anxiety
| By:
Deah Curry PhD | |
In the 18-54 year old age group, about 4 million ---or nearly 3 % of us---feel anxious all the time, but without having a specific triggering cause. This is called Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). People who grow up in chaotic homes, or in families with high and exacting expectations, may be prone to GAD. People who are known as perfectionists may be affected by GAD. Their perfectionism is a coping mechanism for the underlying anxiety that they live with on a minute to minute basis.
Decades ago, psychologists used to talk about neurosis, and neurotic clients. Today this is no longer a diagnostic term as we have come to understand that a certain degree of neurosis is within the range of normal for some people. The primary determining factors by which psychologists decide if a neurotic client is suffering from GAD are the degree to which anxiety interferes with normal daily functioning, and to what extent the client’s usual coping mechanisms are effective or dysfunctional.
There are also those who take the biomedical approach and consider that GAD is primarily a neurochemical imbalance, for which medications can be prescribed. This can be helpful, depending on the severity of the anxiety and the individual involved. Psychotherapists sometimes suggest combining medication with suggestions like those found in a booklet I wrote for my patients: Anxiety Management for Busy People. Although the personal growth approach that I advocate is not opposed to medication when it’s useful, its followers tend to see GAD within a context of multiple factors that can be changed by a variety of methods, most of which are inexpensive, easy, and in the client’s personal control.
The pace of our daily lives, the demands of nanosecond technology and 24/7 availability by fax, cell phone and email, the very real threats of the geopolitical scene, the drive to out do our parents and show up our neighbors and provide every consumer luxury for our kids---all these factors and more contribute to GAD. It can be understood primarily as a lifestyle disorder. And that’s the good news, because holistic treatments that aim to restore lifestyle balance are an effective, permanent strategy. Pharmaceutical medications aimed at helping you tolerate the distress may help provide the break you need to begin the more holistic approaches. Still, drugs, whether prescribed or not, generally only treat the symptoms, not the causes of GAD.
Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with GAD. That’s no surprise, given that women still have less control over their lives and choices than men have, particularly in the workplace. Persons who feel like their life is under their control have less anxiety. Women in general are also twice as likely as men to go to a psychotherapist or doctor when feeling the symptoms of anxiety, whereas men in general tend to ignore physical and emotional symptoms, and instead channel their anxiety into problem-solving, harder work, and adrenaline discharging sports.
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Deah Curry PhD is a holistic psychologist, educator, and author in the Puget Sound region. More of this excerpt from her patient education booklet Anxiety Management for Busy People can be read free at www.InnerJourneyWork.com. |
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