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What is Anxiety Disorder?

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 Psychiatrist discusses What is Anxiety Disorder?

 Psychiatrist discusses What is Anxiety Disorder?

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Video transcript

Featuring Dr. Lakshmi Yatham, MBBS, FRCPC, MRCPsych (UK)
,What is Anxiety Disorder?
Duration: 48 seconds
GAD is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and persistent worrying about various aspects of life, often without a specific trigger. Individuals with GAD tend to worry excessively about everyday events, future outcomes, and a wide range of situations.

One common manifestation of GAD is difficulty with sleep. Racing thoughts and worries can make it challenging for individuals to quiet their minds and fall asleep or stay asleep, leading to disrupted sleep patterns. The lack of quality sleep can further contribute to feelings of fatigue and irritability during the day.

GAD can also affect social interactions and overall functioning. Constant worrying and anticipatory anxiety can make it difficult for individuals to relax and fully engage in social activities or work-related tasks. The persistent state of anxiety may lead to difficulties concentrating, making decisions, and maintaining productivity.

If you suspect that you may have symptoms of an anxiety disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, it is essential to seek professional help. Speaking with your family physician is a good starting point, as they can assess your symptoms, provide a proper diagnosis, and guide you towards appropriate treatment options.

Treatment for generalized anxiety disorder often involves a combination of psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and, in some cases, medications. Therapy can help individuals identify and challenge negative thought patterns, develop effective coping strategies, and reduce anxiety symptoms. Medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may be prescribed to help manage the symptoms of GAD.

Remember, reaching out to your family physician or a mental health professional is crucial in obtaining an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment for generalized anxiety disorder. They can provide support, guidance, and help you navigate the path towards better mental well-being.


Generalized anxiety disorder is common and a person that’s experiencing this particular condition tends to worry about everything in life, pretty much.

So when they go to bed, they start thinking about what’s going to happen the next day and they tend to worry about everything that’s going to happen the next day. They tend to have problems with sleep. They tend to have difficulties interacting with people. It tends to affect the functioning of the person.

If you think you have any of the symptoms of an anxiety disorder, please make sure to speak with your family physician and get appropriate help.

Presenter: Dr. Lakshmi Yatham, Psychiatrist, Vancouver, BC

Local Practitioners: Psychiatrist

7 Common Anxiety Symptoms People Experience ( 35 participated.)

Many people wonder what anxiety feels like. While it’s different for everyone, there are some common anxiety symptoms that people experience.

Questions
 
True
False
1

A Sense of Panic : Some people even visit the emergency room during a panic attack because they’re convinced that they’re having a heart attack or are dying. Panic attack symptoms include dizziness, shortness of breath, tightness in your chest, a feeling of choking, nausea and a fear you’re going crazy.

2

Sleep Problems : If you have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), it can keep you up at night. You may stay awake overthinking and overanalyzing situations or get into a cycle where fatigue makes you more anxious as you get more and more overtired.

3

Muscle Pain: When you feel stressed for an extended period of time, your body may start to tense up. During a panic attack, adrenaline often pumps through your body, constricting your blood vessels. If your muscles don’t receive proper blood flow, it can lead to aches and pains.

4

Restlessness: People with anxiety are constantly responding to the fight or flight system, even though there is no real danger. With so much adrenaline coursing through your body, restlessness is generally the result. Restlessness can also be caused by a feeling of dread or danger, common during panic attacks.

5

Excessive Worrying: Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life, whether you worry about family, your job or money. But if you have generalized anxiety disorder, you get into a cycle of constant worrying and negative thinking that interferes with your daily tasks.

6

Loss of Control: One of the most common anxiety symptoms is a sense of losing control. You may feel that if you can’t control everything in your life that something bad will happen. Worrying can exacerbate your sense of losing control, such as worrying about what will happen if you lose your job or if a family member dies.

7

Difficulty Focusing: If you have generalized anxiety disorder, the worrying and rapid thoughts can distract you from daily life. Sleep problems, restlessness and muscle pain can exhaust you physically, also making it hard to keep your mind on your job, family or hobbies.

This content is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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