When Your Life Is Plagued By General Anxiety

Photo Credit: Mike Jastremski

You may be suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) if you feel anxious and tense most of the time without any reason. Getting anxious at times is a natural phenomenon, but if this state continues for so long that it interferes with your normal day to day function and ability to relax, it may be alarming. It is different from a phobia where your fear is related to a specific situation or an object. The anxiety arising out of GAD is diffused. There is a general feeling of anxiety or fear occupying your mind most of the time. The intensity of anxiety though is less than that in case of a phobia, but it is lasting for a much longer time.  Thus, getting professional help or counseling with an Orange County anxiety therapist is needed.

Generalized anxiety disorder is quite exhausting both mentally and physically. It makes the normal life very difficult and you may find there is no way you can relax. You just can’t take your mind off anxious thoughts and they keep hammering your head endlessly and repeatedly. For instance, it is normal for an average person to have a temporary sense of worry after hearing about a terrorist bombing in his state. However, if it keeps him awake all night continuously worrying about the worst-case scenario of his own city being attacked, he may be suffering from a generalized anxiety disorder.

Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of disorder are not constant. They keep fluctuating through the day. In fact the symptoms vary from one person to another. However, most people experience combination of behavioral, physical and emotional symptoms. You may have difficulty concentrating, putting things off your mind or unable to enjoy quiet time. At an emotional level, you may be having a pervasive feeling of apprehension, difficulty coping with uncertainty and things that make you anxious keep coming to you even if you try to control them. At a physical level, you may feel tense,   have body aches or muscle tightness, experience nausea, and have trouble sleeping or feel edgy.

Therapy

Getting the help of a therapist is the best option to deal with generalized anxiety disorder. He can help you look at your anxiety in new ways and practice different kinds of relaxation techniques. You can also learn to calm down quickly whenever an anxiety situation arises. By changing your lifestyle you can deal with such situations quite effectively. Call Olga Wingood, licensed MFT, at (949)231-8778 . If you or any of your family members or friends are suffering from generalized anxiety disorder, it is time to get the help that you need to regain control of your life.

Providing Counseling Services in Orange County: Irvine, Tustin, Orange, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Laguna, Santa Ana, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Corona Del Mar, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita, Ladero Ranch, Dana Point and San Clemente, California .