Anxiety Disorder: What Is It and What Are Its Symptoms?

Anxiety disorder is a psychiatric disorder characterized by the tendency to experience excessive or irrational worry and anxiety.

Anxiety disorder is a psychiatric disorder in which a person tends to experience excessive or irrational worry and anxiety. Individuals suffering from anxiety or anxiety disorder constantly worry and cannot control the negative thoughts that come to their minds. For a diagnosis of anxiety disorder, symptoms related to the disorder must be present for at least six months. Common worries associated with anxiety disorder can arise in various areas, such as health, finances, family, or work. While everyone may experience anxiety about such issues from time to time, those with anxiety disorder always expect the worst, which becomes an obstacle to leading a normal life. In addition to high levels of worry, anxiety disorder can manifest through various physical symptoms such as fatigue, tiredness, sweating, insomnia, and tension.

What Is Anxiety Disorder?

Generalized anxiety disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by excessive and exaggerated worry about daily life without a specific reason. Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder tend to always expect disaster and cannot help but worry about health, finances, family, work, or school. While everyone feels anxiety and worry from time to time and may have valid reasons for it, for those with anxiety disorder, the worry is often unrealistic or disproportionate to the situation causing the anxiety. The person's daily life is spent in a state of constant worry, fear, and dread. This anxiety can eventually become so dominant in the person's mind that they may start to struggle with routine tasks at work, school, social settings, and in relationships. However, it is possible to manage the disorder with various treatment methods.

What Causes Anxiety Disorder?

Generalized anxiety disorder often develops as a result of a person's inability to cope with internal stress. Despite research, the exact cause of the disorder has not yet been identified. However, like many mental health conditions, it is believed that generalized anxiety disorder arises from a complex interaction of biological and environmental factors. These factors can be listed as follows:

• Differences in brain function and chemistry
• Genetic factors
• Differences in perspectives on events and perceptions of situations
• Developmental characteristics and personality structure

In addition to these factors, anxiety disorder is more commonly observed in certain segments of society. For example, it tends to occur more frequently in women than in men. It is also more prevalent among singles and individuals with lower education levels. Additionally, traumatic experiences from a person's past can negatively affect anxiety levels. Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder may have experienced traumatic or negative events during childhood or recently. People who are introverted by temperament and have a negative outlook are also at greater risk of developing anxiety. Living in a stressful environment and having a chronic illness can increase the prevalence of anxiety disorders.

How Is Anxiety Disorder Diagnosed?

Mental health professionals such as psychiatrists or psychologists use the diagnostic criteria outlined in the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM) to diagnose generalized anxiety disorder. The current edition, DSM-5, includes the following diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder:

• Persistent excessive anxiety and worry lasting for at least six months
• Difficulty controlling worries
• Anxiety causes significant distress or impairs functioning in daily life
• Anxiety is not attributable to another physical cause such as thyroid issues or substance use

Additionally, at least three or more of the following symptoms must be present for at least six months:

• Restlessness and feeling on edge
• Easily fatigued
• Difficulty concentrating
• Muscle tension
• Sleep problems
• Irritability

If you observe symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder in yourself or someone close to you, you can seek a diagnosis from a nearby healthcare facility. The psychiatrist you request support from will first ask you questions regarding your symptoms and perform a physical examination. They may then request some tests to ensure that there is no underlying physical medical condition or substance use causing your symptoms. These tests may include:

• Thyroid function tests: Changes in thyroid hormones can cause anxiety symptoms, so thyroid hormone levels may be checked for differential diagnosis.
• Blood glucose test: This may be requested to determine whether the symptoms are related to fluctuations in blood sugar levels.
• Echocardiography: This is performed to visualize the heart using ultrasound waves and assess its functions, helping to determine whether physical symptoms stem from an underlying heart problem.
• Toxicological screening tests: These may be conducted to distinguish whether the symptoms are due to a medication or drug use.

What Are the Symptoms Associated with Anxiety Disorders?

The primary symptom of generalized anxiety disorder is an excessive and persistent worry about daily life situations. This ongoing worry and tension may be accompanied by several physical symptoms, including:

• Restlessness
• Tension
• Irritability
• Shortness of breath
• Quick fatigue
• Palpitations
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Headaches
• Muscle aches
• Abdominal pain
• Difficulty falling asleep or maintaining sleep

Treatment for Anxiety Disorders

Generalized anxiety disorder can be treated with the support of a psychiatrist or psychologist if it is not caused by another underlying medical condition. Treatment is often administered in the form of a combination of medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy. The methods used in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder include:

Medications: Medications do not eliminate the illness but can help control the symptoms. For this purpose, a group of drugs known in medical literature as anxiolytics may be used. Benzodiazepine anxiolytics may be preferred for patients whose symptoms need immediate control; however, they should be used carefully due to their potential for addiction. Antidepressant anxiolytics can also help alleviate anxiety symptoms. However, it may take several weeks for antidepressants to show their effects. Antidepressants are more suitable for safer and longer-term treatment. Antipsychotics can assist some patients, particularly those with related behavioral problems.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of talk therapy aimed at identifying and changing the thought patterns and behaviors that lead to anxiety. This type of therapy helps individuals approach the subjects they worry about more realistically, thereby limiting distorted thoughts.

Alternative Treatments: By making some lifestyle changes and adopting habits, anxiety disorders can be managed more easily. These lifestyle changes and habits may include:

• Exercising: You can develop a routine for physical activity on most days of the week. Exercising is a good stress reliever and can improve your mood. Gradually increasing the amount and intensity of exercise will be beneficial for your body to adapt.
• Relaxation techniques: Relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises can help alleviate anxiety.
• Healthy diet: Consuming healthy foods such as fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains may be associated with reduced anxiety. However, more research is needed to support this issue.
• Adequate and quality sleep: You can establish a sleep routine to ensure you get enough rest and feel refreshed. If you are having trouble sleeping well, you may seek help from your doctor.
• Avoiding cigarettes and coffee: The nicotine in cigarettes and caffeine in coffee can trigger anxiety.
• Avoiding substance use: Drugs can exacerbate anxiety.