Generalized anxiety disorder
The characteristic feature of generalized anxiety disorder is the fact that it is not limited by any particular exterior circumstances and scientists say that it is a “free-floating” condition. The main symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder include complaints of constant uneasiness, worry, trembling, muscular tension and strain, sweating, dizziness, faintness, palpitations, and epigastric discomfort. Patients experience fears that they or their relatives will soon become ill or have an accident. This condition is also called anxiety neurosis, anxiety reaction, or anxiety state.
Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder
The following features are characteristic for the anxiety in generalized anxiety disorder:
- The anxiety is steady for the period at least six months;
- The anxiety is generalized with the pronounced intensity of uneasiness and worry of forthcoming troubles in every day life; patients experience various fears, excitement, bad presentiments;
- The anxiety is unstable and is not limited by any determined circumstances.
There should be at least four of 22 symptoms of anxiety, and one of them should be a vegetative sign.
There are 3 characteristic groups of symptoms in generalized anxiety disorder:
- Anxiety and fears, which are difficult to control for the patient and which last more than usually. This anxiety is generalized and is not focused on specific problems, such as the possibility of panic attacks as in panic disorder, difficult situation as in a social phobia or pollution as in obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- The motor tension, which can be interpreted as a muscular tension, tremor, inability for relaxation, headaches that are usually bilateral and are frequently experienced in frontal and occipital areas. Other motor symptoms are nagging muscular pains and muscular rigidity, especially of the muscles of the back and humeral area.
- Hyperactivity of vegetative nervous system, which is expressed by an increased perspiration, tachycardia, dryness in a mouth, discomfort in the epigastrium and dizziness. Other mental symptoms of the generalized anxiety disorder are irritability, bad concentration of attention and increased sensitivity to the noise. Some patients complain of bad memory when they are being examined for their ability to concentrate attention. If the memory disorder is really found, it is necessary to carry out a careful psychological examination for excluding the primary organic mental disorder.
The vegetative symptoms can be grouped according to the functional systems as follows:
- Gastroenteric symptoms: dryness in the mouth, difficulty at swallowing, discomfort in the pit of the stomach, excessive bloating, gurgling and tummy rumbling;
- Respiratory symptoms: sensation of constriction in the chest, difficulties of breathing in by contrast to the problems of exhalation in asthma and the consequences of hyperventilation;
- Cardiovascular symptoms: sensation of discomfort in the heart area, palpitations, sensation of absence of heart beat, the pulsation of cervical vessels;
- Urogenital symptoms: frequent urination, disappearance of erection, decreased libido, menstrual abnormalities, and transient amenorrhea;
- Nervous system: sensation of unsteadiness, blurred vision, dizziness and paresthesias.
The patient suffering from generalized anxiety disorder frequently has the characteristic appearance. There is strain in his face with frowned eyebrows, his pose is tensed, he is restless, and the shiver is frequently observed. The patient’s skin is pale and he sweats frequently, especially the palms, feet and armpits. He is lachrymose that can suggest the symptoms of depression at the beginning and it reflects the general depression of mood.
Patients may ask for help in connection to any of these symptoms, not paying attention to symptoms of anxiety.