GAD, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, OCD,

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generally Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is persistent worry (a lot of worrying over and over again) about two or more things without a good reason. It is called generalized anxiety because it is categorized as a "generalized and excessive feeling of anxiety." Sometimes these feelings of anxiety are not associated with any particular circumstance.

It can be difficult for people with GAD to relax or fall asleep due to the worry and anxiety. Some of the symptoms a person can experience may be the following:

Accelerated heart rate, panic attacks, shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheadedness, depersonalization ( a feeling of unreality), muscle pains, jittery feelings, restlessness, trouble falling asleep, poor concentration, palpitations, depressing moods, irritability, the list goes on!

Usually, the constant worrying is related to matters in your daily life but for many people, the fears are irrational.

Does this sound like you:

I feel like the end is near and I’m about to completely lose my mind. I fear having a nervous breakdown. When is this feeling going to stop? I feel so hopeless and isolated. Nobody can feel this bad. I’m anxious all the time over everything. I have no hope or confidence for the future. Just the simplest decision makes me nervous. The worry never stops. I can’t be spontaneous because I’m calculating everything I do. I don’t want to lose my sanity.

I’ve been coming up with thoughts that are making me feel strange. They are intense. I want to get into a fetal position and not face life. The thoughts I have now are “what’s the point of life?” “Everything passes, so why not give up now? It all ends anyway!” This brings me down so much.

I am so fatigued. I can’t go out. I have difficulty concentrating and I’m so irritable! Just waiting in line at the supermarket makes me so uneasy. It is happening everywhere I go. I can’t stop worrying about my family, my spending, my finances, my kids, my appointments, and my work. I can’t sleep and when I do, I get the worst sleep ever! It’s impossible to control this worry. I’ve tried and I’m just tired of it all. My head is hot, I feel this anxious sensation in my chest and stomach, and I think I’m losing my mind.

Panic Disorder

Panic Disorder (PD) causes people to feel terror suddenly and sometimes unexpected. Accompanying physical signs include dizziness, lightheadedness, rapid pulse, trembling, chest pains, shortness of breath, nausea, numbness, and a fear of going crazy or dying. Some people convince themselves that they are dying during an attack. The feelings can feel so intense and real to the person that a sense of "lack of control" is usually felt too.

Panic Disorder can start to become debilitating when the person suffering begins to avoid situations or stimuli in which an attack is assumed to occur. When panic attacks begin to keep the person from normal everyday activities, Agoraphobia can become the new diagnosis. Some people may not leave their home (See Agoraphobia).

Common fears found in panic disorder sufferers:

Fear of losing control:

Many times, when a person feels the terror of a panic attack, they will fear losing control and not being able to move, embarrass themselves, hurt someone or hurt themselves. Some people fear having a Tourette's Syndrome kind of experience in which they shout things and say things they do not want to say.

Fear of going crazy: The fear of losing control can lead people to think that they will go "crazy" or hallucinate and start experiencing a kind of Schizophrenia. There is no reason to worry though, anxiety, panic, worry and depersonalization / derealization feelings will not induce schizophrenia. There is a giant difference between neurosis and psychosis. You are not alone in feeling the fear of going crazy. Many people have a fear of it. Not to worry :) it is irrational.

Fear of dying:

Fear of a heart attack: Sometimes, a panic attack can cause a feeling of chest pain, heart palpitation, or dizziness. It in not uncommon for people to worry that their symptoms are that of a heart attack. If chest pain or other symptoms are long-lasting and/or recurrent - you should seek a medical investigation by a doctor to rule out heart disease. If all is well in that arena, it is unlikely that your symptoms are that of a heart problem.

Fear of hurting someone or hurting themselves:

This fear is associated with the fear of losing control. Sometimes a person will have the fear that somehow when they experience a panic attack, they will jump off a building, take a weapon of some sort and use it, etc. Sufferers should keep in mind that anxiety does not cause people to lose their ability to control their behavior and act against one's will.

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Agoraphobia

When a person with panic disorder begins to fear going places because of the panic and the fear of not being able to get to safety, he/she might be diagnosed with agoraphobia.
Agoraphobic fears typically involve situations that include being outside the home alone; being in a crowd or standing in a line; being on a bridge; and traveling in a bus, train, or automobile. The situations are avoided are marked with distress over having a Panic Attack or panic-like symptoms, or not having safety.

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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) suffer from unwanted and intrusive thoughts that they can't seem to get out of their heads (obsessions) and feel compelled to repeatedly perform ritualistic behaviors and routines (compulsions) to try and ease their anxiety. Most people who have OCD are aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational, yet feel powerless to stop them. Some spend hours at a time performing complicated rituals involving hand-washing, counting or checking in order to ward off persistent, unwelcome thoughts, feelings or images. Others live in terror that they will accidentally do something wrong, such as harm someone, blurt out an improper statement or throw something out by mistake.

Common obsessions include:

* Constant, irrational worry about dirt, germs or contamination;

* Sexual thoughts that cause the person to be distressed

* Violent thoughts of hurting other people or themselves. Fear of those thoughts.

* Nagging feelings that something bad will happen if certain items aren't in an exact place, position or order;

* Preoccupation with a particular image or thought.

* Obsessing over the thought of one's bodily functions.

* Fear that one's negative or blasphemous thoughts or images will cause personal harm or harm to a loved one;

* Preoccupation with losing or throwing away objects with little or no value;

* Rumination about accidentally or purposefully injuring another person.

Common compulsions include:

Cleaning - Repeatedly washing one's hands, bathing or cleaning household items, often for hours at a time;

* Checking - Checking and re-checking, several to hundreds of times per day, that the doors are locked, stove is turned off, hairdryer is unplugged, etc.;

* Repeating - Unable to stop repeating a name, phrase or tune;

*Slowness - Excessive, painstakingly slow and methodical approach to daily activities; and

* Hoarding - Saving useless items such as old newspapers or magazines, bottle caps or rubber bands.

Obsessions and rituals can substantially interfere with a person's normal routine, schoolwork, job, family or social activities. Several hours each day may be spent focusing on obsessive thoughts and performing seemingly senseless rituals. Trying to concentrate on normal daily activities may be difficult. If left untreated, OCD can interfere with all aspects of one's life.

Children can suffer from OCD as well (see Children & Adolescents) as adults. Unlike adults, however, children with OCD do not realize that their obsessions and compulsions are excessive.

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Note: Physical illness can sometimes resemble symptoms of severe anxiety, panic, and depression. Check with your doctor!